COTT | encouragement | Guest blogger | Julie Arduini | Life Lessons | surrender | Writing
COTT: After by Joy Ohagwu
After, an inspirational novel by contemporary Christian fiction author, Joy
Ohagwu, is poised to spotlight the strength in transformation, courage in
love, and hope in times of despair.
Ohagwu, is poised to spotlight the strength in transformation, courage in
love, and hope in times of despair.
PURCHASE
About the book:
One step will transform her life.
Sixty thousand people watched as Candace Rodriguez literally fell off the
stage while performing the national anthem, wrecking more than her
self-esteem. Is her music career over? Now, weighing 350 pounds and jilted
by her fiancé after the shame of her public fall, can she find another
chance at true love? Will her new Christian faith anchor her future
hopes?
stage while performing the national anthem, wrecking more than her
self-esteem. Is her music career over? Now, weighing 350 pounds and jilted
by her fiancé after the shame of her public fall, can she find another
chance at true love? Will her new Christian faith anchor her future
hopes?
Former highbrow stock trader, “JB” Patrickson has had enough of life making
mockery of his best laid-out future plans. His father insisted he’d never
make it more than selling ” chickn” stock in Kentucky. Proving him wrong,
JB succeeded at the NY Stock Exchange, becoming one of the best US
traders…until the market crashed in 2008. Seven years later and mired in
debt, he can’t shake the urge that God is leading him down a different
path. The path of accepting his grandmother’s request to come help manage
her farm, couple hundred miles away, despite his little to nothing
knowledge about farming. Has he fallen low enough to toil with his hands to
eke out a single meal? What future could God plan for him on a farm?Twenty years after returning to the US from a fulfilling medical mission in
Asia, Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Cantwell gratefully send off two sons to college,
purchase a flourishing twenty-acre farm, and prepare to settle into their
empty nest stage. But what will they do if God leads one more life into
their path, one needing stitches of the soul not of the body? Can they
answer His call to service, or will overlooked pain from the past threaten
the fragile peace they’d so desperately coaxed into existence to survive
together?
mockery of his best laid-out future plans. His father insisted he’d never
make it more than selling ” chickn” stock in Kentucky. Proving him wrong,
JB succeeded at the NY Stock Exchange, becoming one of the best US
traders…until the market crashed in 2008. Seven years later and mired in
debt, he can’t shake the urge that God is leading him down a different
path. The path of accepting his grandmother’s request to come help manage
her farm, couple hundred miles away, despite his little to nothing
knowledge about farming. Has he fallen low enough to toil with his hands to
eke out a single meal? What future could God plan for him on a farm?Twenty years after returning to the US from a fulfilling medical mission in
Asia, Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Cantwell gratefully send off two sons to college,
purchase a flourishing twenty-acre farm, and prepare to settle into their
empty nest stage. But what will they do if God leads one more life into
their path, one needing stitches of the soul not of the body? Can they
answer His call to service, or will overlooked pain from the past threaten
the fragile peace they’d so desperately coaxed into existence to survive
together?
What our voters had to say:
–I love the book, AFTER! The cover is catchy, and the contents,
inspiring!
–Congratulations, Joy! A lovely book inside and out.~~~Deirdre Lockhart
–I personally saw the love poured into writing “After” and I hope it
blesses everyone who reads it! It’s Awesome!!!
–CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK, JOY!!!! COVER IS ALSO FANTABULOUS!!!!
–Thumbs up, Joy!
Q: Joy, what was writing After like?
A: Thank you for asking. First, I’d like to appreciate everyone that
voted for After during the COTT contest. Thank you all very much. I started
writing After during NaNoWriMo 2013. Then earlier in summer 2015, after I
wrote Candace in as a character for Blossom and Josh’s story(which is now
After 2), her personality and voice got so strong that she took over the
story! It was amazing. I trusted my gut, went with the flow, and ended up
publishing Candace’s and JB’s story as the first in the AFTER series. The
AFTER series is about transformation and positively changing one’s
lifestyle through fitness. But more importantly, After shows us that we
should allow God to assist us in every area of our lives, especially those
places where everyone expects us to fail. You can read the story here.
Although I enjoyed writing about Candace and JB, I’m glad that I finally
completed Blossom and Josh’s story as well and it released as After 2 in
November 2015.
voted for After during the COTT contest. Thank you all very much. I started
writing After during NaNoWriMo 2013. Then earlier in summer 2015, after I
wrote Candace in as a character for Blossom and Josh’s story(which is now
After 2), her personality and voice got so strong that she took over the
story! It was amazing. I trusted my gut, went with the flow, and ended up
publishing Candace’s and JB’s story as the first in the AFTER series. The
AFTER series is about transformation and positively changing one’s
lifestyle through fitness. But more importantly, After shows us that we
should allow God to assist us in every area of our lives, especially those
places where everyone expects us to fail. You can read the story here.
Although I enjoyed writing about Candace and JB, I’m glad that I finally
completed Blossom and Josh’s story as well and it released as After 2 in
November 2015.
Q: Can you share with us about your next book?
A: Sure. I’d love to. I’m presently writing Uncommon Ground,
the first book in a romantic suspense series, and I’ll share what the story
is about. Stella is a widow who’s juggling a career and raising an older
teen that doesn’t believe in God. A disaster occurs that separates them and
turns their world upside down. Stella’s concerns multiply in the ensuing
chaos after she meets Michael, a Christian man with a mysterious past and
she wonders how many more unseen twists God trusts her to handle. Like
Psalm 68 verse 5 says, God is a defender of the widows. Uncommon Ground is
a story where we can identify with each of the characters’ struggles, and
if we let it, it can potentially kick our faith higher into greater
dimensions. After reading Uncommon Ground, we get to appreciate some
of the things we usually take for granted as Christians. Uncommon Ground
becomes available for preorder Jan 1, 2016, and I pray everyone gets
their copy.
the first book in a romantic suspense series, and I’ll share what the story
is about. Stella is a widow who’s juggling a career and raising an older
teen that doesn’t believe in God. A disaster occurs that separates them and
turns their world upside down. Stella’s concerns multiply in the ensuing
chaos after she meets Michael, a Christian man with a mysterious past and
she wonders how many more unseen twists God trusts her to handle. Like
Psalm 68 verse 5 says, God is a defender of the widows. Uncommon Ground is
a story where we can identify with each of the characters’ struggles, and
if we let it, it can potentially kick our faith higher into greater
dimensions. After reading Uncommon Ground, we get to appreciate some
of the things we usually take for granted as Christians. Uncommon Ground
becomes available for preorder Jan 1, 2016, and I pray everyone gets
their copy.
Thank you very much for having me here. God bless you!
About Bestselling Author Joy Ohagwu:
Joy Ohagwu is the bestselling author of The New Rulebook suspense series.
Her novels are romantic suspense and inspirational stories geared to
engage, inspire and entertain readers. She earned a Masters’ Degree in
International Affairs from American University, Washington DC; and a
Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Ibadan,
Ibadan. Professionally, she’s been honored with multiple awards for pioneer
academic research, student leadership and overall excellence. Joy is a
member of the American Christian Fiction Writers(ACFW) organization. She
pens stories during evenings, weekends, and whenever the food takes too
long to cook. Despite the many hurdles she has faced, she counts God as
being faithful in her life. Joy lives in the beautiful State of
Maryland.
Her novels are romantic suspense and inspirational stories geared to
engage, inspire and entertain readers. She earned a Masters’ Degree in
International Affairs from American University, Washington DC; and a
Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Ibadan,
Ibadan. Professionally, she’s been honored with multiple awards for pioneer
academic research, student leadership and overall excellence. Joy is a
member of the American Christian Fiction Writers(ACFW) organization. She
pens stories during evenings, weekends, and whenever the food takes too
long to cook. Despite the many hurdles she has faced, she counts God as
being faithful in her life. Joy lives in the beautiful State of
Maryland.
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