My guest today is Author Sandra Orchard whose latest Love Inspired Suspense was inspired by someone in her life. Here’s Sandra:

“Lyn asked me to share a bit about the woman and ministry that inspired this story. Our pastor’s daughter works at a faith-based youth detention facility. Listening to her talk about her work, I was enthralled by the young woman’s passion for the youth. What really struck me though was her admission that she often learned more from the kids than the other way around. Her excitement about the positive impact she could have in residents’ lives became my heroine’s.

Since the real Hope Manor is run by a Christian organization, Ray of Hope, it’s only partially government funded. The organization’s mission is to demonstrate the love of God to those who are disadvantaged, marginalized or in trouble, with the vision of people investing in people, inspiring hope, and transforming lives. They also have many other activities within the community beyond the detention facility for which they recruit volunteers, fundraise and create partnerships. You can learn more at http://www.rayofhope.net/

While Beth and Hope Manor were the inspiration for my heroine’s character and career, and Beth graciously answered all my questions about her work, I hasten to add that my heroine is entirely fictional, as is the detention center where she works and the cast of characters who populate her world.

Shades of Truth Blurb:

Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

Book 2 in Undercover Cops:? Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.

The career and character of the heroine in Shades of Truth was inspired by the passion of Sandra’s pastor’s daughter’s for her work at a faith-based youth detention facility.

In this photo Sandra is posing with the editor we share–Tina James, Senior Editor.

Sandra Orchard lives in rural Ontario, Canada where inspiration abounds for her romantic suspense novels set in the fictional Niagara town she’s created as their backdrop. Married with three grown children, when not writing, she enjoys hanging out with family, brainstorming new stories with fellow writers, and walking her dog in God’s beautiful creation. She loves to connect with readers, and has created “novel extras” to enhance readers’ experience of her books.

Check out these and other resources for both readers and writers at her website: http://www.SandraOrchard.com.

For updates on new releases, special subscriber-only reads and giveaway opportunities, sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/OrchardNews

She’d love for you to connect at: http://www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

And join in the conversations about characters on her blog at http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com

Available in stores for month from March 13th or on Harlequin now at: http://bit.ly/SofTonHqn

Thanks for being my guest, Sandra. Do any of you have similar organizations near you or that you support? Please tell us about them.–Lyn