Book Review: Deliver Us by June Foster–Includes Author Interview!
I am so excited to share June Foster with you. She has a sweet spirit and hands-down is the person who helped me recognize telling in my own writing. She is an author I expect you to hear a LOT more of. Here is an interview, followed by my review of her latest, Deliver Us.
How long did you write before you sold your first book?
I began writing in January, 2010 and sold my first book September 2011. I kid around saying that God must have put me on the fast track to publication because He knew I don’t have as many days on earth as my younger colleagues.
Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In 2011, I submitted a proposal to Desert Breeze Publishing for my Bellewood Series. I never thought it would result in a contract. One Sunday morning in September, I opened my e-mail and received the news that Gail Delaney wanted to contract all three books in the series. When I screamed, my husband came running from the bedroom thinking a bug had attacked me or something. Deliver Us is the third and final book in that series.
Where do you get ideas for your books?
I believe the Lord gives them to me. Since I write romance, I like to think of a man and a woman who would least likely fall in love. Shall I confess right now? I wrote one book about a young woman who falls in love with a Christian homosexual man. Yes, it’s true. Ryan’s Father will be out in 2014. I’d like to remind you my stories are all told from a strong Christian worldview, so you’ll have to wait to see what happens. The story reflects my stand on this delicate topic.
How do you get to know your characters?
I get a picture of a famous person I think looks like my character. Then I fill out a character chart describing every detail about this character. I interview him/her asking pertinent questions relating to the novel’s plot and see what answers they give me. I examine their goals, motivation, and conflicts. If I know anyone who’s like my character, I try to figure out how that person would react and what they’d say in various situations.
What is your writing schedule and where do you write?
My “office” has changed drastically since we moved out of our RV. Before I had a desk and two filing cabinets where the couch used to be in the RV. It actually worked fine. I wrote five books in that location. Now I have a whole big room upstairs in our house. I have more room to spread out now and more reliable internet, which is a blessing. Each day, I try to get up by 6:30 and get to writing no later than 9:00. I take breaks for various reasons, but most days I don’t finish up until 9:00 or 9:30 at night.
What is the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done?
This happened not because I’m so good at taking risks, but I had to. My husband used to have a small 4-seater plane. We were flying along, and he had to crawl over into the back seat. He told me to take the controls and fly the plane. I’d had a few flying lessons but wasn’t good enough to “fly the plane” like he said. I took the wheel though the plane met with turbulence, and we were heading toward a mountain range.
What is the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you?
Back after the hurricane Katrina hit the southern states, my husband and I were hired by Pilot Catastrophe, a branch of Allstate Insurance to process claims. I got fired after two weeks.
How many books do you have published and where can they be found?
I have four published. Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, Deliver Us, and A Hometown Fourth of July. They can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Desert Breeze Publishing, and where ever e-books are sold. Ryan’s Father will be published with White Fire in January 2014.
Where can fans find you or your books on the internet?
I can think of one extra way you can get to know June Foster better.
Read her books.
Today I’m reviewing Deliver Us, Book 3 in her Bellewood Series from Desert Breeze Publishing. Although this can be a standalone, do yourself a favor and read Give Us This Day and As We Forgive first. If you analyze the titles, you’ll realize they are part of The Lord’s Prayer.
Deliver Us Bellewood Series Book 3 from Desert Breeze Publishing April 2013
The young fraternity man who coaxed Jillian Coleman upstairs that night is only a blur in her memory. Now she lives with the unrelenting guilt that she aborted her baby. God might forgive her, but she can’t forgive herself. As Bellewood’s premier gynecologist, she hopes to open the Jeremiah House to offer teen girls an abortion alternative. Though the handsome and successful Dr. Jett Camp wants to marry Jillian, he believes her plan is a waste of her skills.
Riley Mathis spent ten years in jail for dealing drugs. Now as a Christian, he’s trying to put his life back together. Working as a janitor at night, he attends college by day. When he meets Dr. Coleman, he recognizes her from the sapphire necklace she wore the night he stole something precious from her. When she confesses the choice she made to abort her baby, Riley can’t tell her he’s the father of her child.
I’m familiar with June’s work as she was once in a critique group I facilitated (and we’d take her back in a heartbeat.) I only saw a little of Deliver Us before June left the group, and I knew once again she was writing something special.
June “writes real,” something what I shared in an Amazon review, and it’s true. She isn’t afraid to tackle real issues everyone deals with–including Christians. She crafts beautiful romance, but I assure you, it isn’t predictable. After all, when is the last time you read about a woman falling for a man who turns to be the frat boy from long ago?
Jillian’s story is about forgiveness and trust. Riley is a beautiful portrait of redemption and again, realistic. He continues to struggle. I love that June doesn’t write characters that accept Jesus and everything is easy. But she is clear on what all readers need to embrace once they’ve asked Jesus into their lives–their freedom in Christ. He’s forgotten our sins, and June paints a beautiful picture of this concept all through Deliver Us.
Deliver Us is definitely in the running for my favorite fiction read this year.
To purchase Deliver Us, click here.
I received a .pdf of Deliver Us from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Julie, I am so grateful to you for your review and featuring me on your blog. Thank you, my friend.
[…] Here is a snippet of her review. You can read the entire review and interview by clicking HERE […]
[…] Doings (Rhonda Nash-Hall) Cindy’s Book Reviews (Cindy Loven) Julie Arduini Mary L. […]