My guest today Johnnie A Donley is celebrating her first book. Where Treasure Hides, which is strictly digital. I had the pleasure of helping Johnnie after she won the ACFW Genesis Contest last year by giving her some tips. Now she’s going to give away an ebook copy so here’s what Johnnie has to say:
“My maternal grandmother died a few days after my birth, but I’ve heard the stories of how she, a widow, singlehandedly raised her children.
During World War II, a Blue Star Flag hung in her living room window, a service flag with six blue stars – one for each of her six sons.
As this hardworking woman waited for her sons to return home from both the European and Pacific theaters, she welcomed other mothers’ sons into her kitchen for a home-cooked meal. One young soldier, nicknamed Tex and stationed in Michigan couldn’t make it home to the Lone Star State for Christmas so he spent the holidays with my grandmother and her daughters.
While the war raged, my uncle’s wife waited for his return. During those difficult years, she bought the home that they lived in until their deaths decades later.
While the war raged, my aunt waited for her husband’s return. During those hard years, she worked at a grocery store and volunteered for the USO.
And they all waited.
To purchase, click here. Where Treasure Hides
When war comes to her home in Rotterdam, Holland, my protagonist Alison Schuyler joins the Dutch Underground to protect her country’s art and children.
But eventually Alison is forced to flee Holland and later finds herself in an isolated Bavarian chalet. Where she waits.
During the long months of Alison’s separation from her family, she must find a reason to wholeheartedly embrace the truth of Proverbs 31:25. The verse says: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she rejoices in the days to come (KJV).
We so often think of waiting as a passive, do-nothing time.
But waiting can require the deepest strength of all – the strength that comes from total trust in God during an uncertain time.
During the war years, my grandmother couldn’t know that her sons would make it home, marry, and raise families of their own. My uncle’s wife and my aunt couldn’t know that their husbands would come back to them, or that one day both couples would celebrate golden anniversaries with children and grandchildren.
But those were the futures God had granted them . . . reasons for rejoicing in the days to come.
Our futures lay ahead of us. We may be swamped with to-dos; we may be waiting; we may be doing both. But the truth remains. When we clothe ourselves with strength and honor, we can rejoice in the eternal days to come.
Bio: Author Johnnie Alexander Donley writes stories of suspense, intrigue, and romance set in World War II. Her debut book, Where Treasure Hides, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest for Historical Fiction in 2011. A history enthusiast, Johnnie has also edited nonfiction manuscripts and textbooks. She is a founding member of the Central Florida chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. A longtime Florida resident, Johnnie treasures family memories, classic movies, shelves full of books, and her papillon Rugby.
Website/Blog: http://www.johnniedonley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnnieAlexanderDonley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnnie_donley
To be entered in the drawing, please leave a comment. Here’s the question: Have you ever had to wait for something? Was it worth the wait?–Lyn
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Lyn, thank you so much for hostessing the book giveaway for Where Treasure Hides.
Thanks, too, to each of you who left a commented.. I enjoyed reading your “waiting” stories and appreciate your sharing them.
God bless!.
“it took quite awhile to get used to not being single!” — Kathy, that’s a great line! Commitment and faith are the keys. Wishing you many joyful anniversaries in the years to come.
Like Betti, I had to wait to get married. I was also 33 when I got married, then it took quite awhile to get used to not being single! And while we still struggle financially, our comittment to each other is strong, because of our mutual faith.
The best things are worth waiting for….like good books
Absolutely! And there are so many in my “to be read” pile. Thanks for stopping by, Wanda.
Liz, thanks for stopping by and the best wishes. I wonder if it’s a lesson any of us ever get perfect. We’re blessed to be loved by a God of such wondrous grace.
Congratulations and best wishes to Joohnnie on this debut.
I am still schooling myself that what arrives at the end of the wait is what is appropriate even if not what I expected.
I heard you talk on My Book Therapy Monday night. It was really nice to hear from a new author. Each time we wanna-bees hear a new author tell their story, it encourages. After I get through working on my “Fraiser”entries, I will look for your book! Sounds enchanting and I love history also.
Love,
Mary
Mary, thank you! I had so much fun on the My Book Therapy chat. It was the first time I’d done something like that and you all made me feel so welcome. My best to you with the Frasier.
I think it was Lyn Cote who posted info on this and thought I’d check it out- had to add this book to my wishlist for my nook for when I get paid next.
As for waiting- I didn’t get married until I was 28 and we got married when he got home from a deployment only to learn that the war would start soon and he deployed four months later for another six months. we moved to Alaska (and I am so a southern girl!) and after a year he deployed for a year- during which the Army made me move two blocks over. Once they started returning home we learned by the media that it was canceled and they were extended another four months.
With media imbedded with troops now, let me tell you that it makes waiting through a deployment so much harder! At one point his unit was bombed live on CNN and we had to wait 24 hours for the families to be notified of the three that were killed (also announced live)… that had to be the toughest 24 hours of my life! Thankfully he retired a few years ago!
Looking forward to reading this book!!
Kimberly, my heart just gasped reading your comment. Absolutely, that must have been a horrid twenty-four hours. So glad your hubby is retired now and thank you both for the sacrifice and service. I hope you enjoy the story — perhaps you’ll identify with Alison as she waits for WWII to end
Waiting. It’s one of the hardest things a person does. But if we can leave the “thing” in God’s hands and enjoy the journey, it’s so much easier. Great post, Johnnie. And thanks, Lynn for hosting her!
I’m with you, Pat. That’s probably why I love road trips. The journey can be as much fun as wherever it is we’re going. Thanks for stopping by!
Johnnie, its always nice to meet a new author and thanks to Lyn for letting us know about you and your book. I dont read ebooks so don’t put me in the drawing but did want to stop by and give a hello and wish you well in your writing. the story sounds like a good book to read.
I think I am a pretty patient person, at the moment we are trying to sell our house and move to another state and my patience is really getting tested.
thanks for sharing today
Paula O
Paula, thank you for your encouragement. I appreciate it. Saying a little prayer for you and your move. God bless!
Yes many times! It’s usually worth the wait. Waiting makes you appreciate things so much more!
makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com
Megan, I so agree with you. Thanks for stopping by and participating in the giveaway.
Valri, my heart goes out to your son and daughter-in-law. As difficult as it is to understand the why, we can be confident that God is with them . . . and you! My morning devo (interesting enough) was the importance of how we wait — with impatience or confident expectation. Timely for me, and perhaps for you, too. Prayers for you and your family.
Just wanted to add that the devo I’m reading is Sarah Young’s Jesus Today (the one with the blue cover). Love her devos!
I’ve had to wait for several things in my life (some personal that I don’t want to share!) but recently both my son and daughter-in-law graduated college at the same time. My son went on to grad school and my dil was going to work full-time to support them. She is a nurse so thought it would be no problem to get a job. WRONG! After 6 months, still no job, no money and they have a 1 year old baby! All of us were paying their bills and they were SO discouraged! My son was ready to quit grad school and get a job but we all told him “forget it” – it was too hard to GET IT to grad school so just hang in there. My dil finally found a job, just not one she’s terribly thrilled about but at least some money is coming in. It’s hard to know the reasons why things happen sometimes. Hopefully she’s find a better job but right now, our family is closer as we pull together to help them – even though they are 3,000 miles away!
I will say that I waited to get married – I was 33 when we married. It was worth the wait!! We have never had much money, don’t really own anything much, but we have each-other, our daughter and love for the Lora and others.
Love and family last longer than “stuff.”
Betti, that’s such a sweet “waiting” story. Thanks for stopping by and sharing.