Monday, May 22, 2023

Author Interview: A Path to Acceptance by Lisa M. James

A Path To Acceptance JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Path To Acceptance by Lisa M. James, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

A Path to Acceptance

Title: A Path to Acceptance
Series:
The Prodigal Woman Series
Author:
Lisa M. James
Publisher:
Independently Published
Release Date:
May 19, 2023
Genre:
Christian Romance / Fantasy

Wanton. Tainted. Immoral. These were all words that could describe Penelope. After being forced into a world of harlotry to cover her parents' debts, Penny learned how to survive without feeling. When a mysterious man approaches Penny with an offer to free her from her situation, Penny soon discovers that leaving her tavern could not rid her of the reputation she gained as a harlot. Would anyone be able to see beyond her tainted past?

Abandoned by his father as a child, Ryland refuses to depend on anyone but himself. Surviving as a mercenary for wealthy landowners, he accepts an assignment to free a harlot from a life of slavery. Frustrated when he is forced to take her under his care, Ryland discovers there is more to this harlot than her beauty. Can her unshakeable faith bring him back to a Redeemer he has long since rejected?  

Discover the story of a tainted woman in A Path to Acceptance.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub


More Books in this Series

A Path to Forgiveness


Excerpt


“I cannot make any promises for your life. But I know this mistress. She is giving you an opportunity. And you would be a fool to throw it away for that life,” he pointed to the darkness again. “Come if you wish.” He hopped back on the horse and looked down at me.

“You don’t understand–”

“No, I certainly don’t,” he interjected. “I have no idea how it is to live the life of a harlot. Nor do I truly care to imagine. So, the choice is yours. You can walk back to the tavern or we can continue forward.”

I knew the choice was no choice at all. I did not even have proper shoes for walking this distance. I closed my eyes, recalling Bartholomew’s words, Have the faith to step into the unknown with the confidence your Redeemer goes ahead of you.

I sent a silent plea for strength to the Redeemer, before extending a hand up to the man. He pulled me up in front of him again and we went the rest of the way in silence.

About the Author

Lisa James

Lisa M. James is a Romantic Fantasy and Christian Fantasy author. Her  novels have made the Amazon Best Sellers list for numerous categories, including: Fairy Tale Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, and Religious Romance. She is committed to creating fantastical worlds with clean romances and diverse female leads. When not writing, Lisa can most often be found watching Disney movies or enjoying homemade chai. 

Connect with Lisa by visiting lisamjames.com to follow her on social media and sign up for newsletter updates.


Author Interview


Q:
What was the inspiration behind A Path to Acceptance?

Lisa: A Path to Acceptance is the second book in a three book series based on the story of The Prodigal Son. I wanted to write stories about women who had fallen so far and had taken the wrong paths in life, yet desperately sought forgiveness, acceptance, and healing. I wanted to write something that portrayed the true message of the gospel but in a fantasy world.


Q: How long did it take you to write this story?

Lisa: About eight months from start to finish, though the story played in my mind a few months before I wrote anything down.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from this book?

Lisa: In this book the main character, Penny, teaches herself to cope with her circumstances by not allowing herself to feel too deeply about anything. There is a quote where her mentor Audora tells her she needs to offer up her circumstances to the Redeemer (God), which I love.

“I am still learning to accept that, by his very name, the Redeemer seeks to redeem our brokenness, our hurt, our shame. Every part of us. He cannot be fooled by practiced smiles concealing broken hearts. You need to allow yourself to feel, Penelope. All of which you buried deep inside. Offer it to him.”


Q: What do you hope readers take away from A Path to Acceptance?

Lisa: I put this in the author notes at the end of the book, but I really want readers to know that just like Penelope and Ryland, we have a Redeemer who sees us with a greater lens than the world does. He knows our hearts. He calls imperfect people his own. No matter what we face in life, whether by circumstances outside of our control or through choices we made ourselves, God is always waiting for us to turn to him, and we can do so without fear of rejection. We are accepted by him.
 

Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know?

Lisa: My family is Indian, and I feel really grateful that while India is a predominantly Hindu and Muslim country, I was born into the very small percentage of Indian households that are Christians! Our roots go all the way back to when St. Thomas traveled to India to spread the gospel and I feel so incredibly blessed about that. I often imagine how my world could have been so drastically different if I was born into a household that didn’t know and teach me about Christ. It’s a privilege for me to not have only grown in the Faith but to have been called to write Christian Fiction.
 

Q: What are you reading now?

I am reading two books right now! The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.


Q: How many bookcases are in your home?

I only have one bookcase that embarrassingly holds Encyclopedias that are almost thirty years old! I primarily borrow books from my local library or read on my kindle, so I haven’t invested in many bookcases!


Q: What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

I love making my thoughts and daydreams into stories. I’ve always had an active imagination, and being able to transform my fantasies into reality in the form of a novel is so much fun! I specifically love writing fantasy stories because I like to bend the aspects of our real world, and the historical world, and add a fresh perspective.


Q: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love traveling and spending time with my family. My sister and I make yearly trips to Disney World which is one of my favorite things to do. I also love taking trips with my mom and we’ve been able to go to some fun places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Bahamas!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of A Path to Acceptance & a Vera Bradley Crossbody bag (plum pansies print)!

A Path to Acceptance JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 22, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 29, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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6 comments:

  1. Thanks for the author interview

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  2. Thanks for the interview

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  3. i enjoyed reading the interview! thanks for being on the tour :)

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  4. A Path to Acceptance sounds like a book that would be hard to put down once you started reading it.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  5. I was just gifted "Premonition" by Lisa M. James. I plan to read it this weekend.

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