- Many of my reader/writer friends may not know that I’m an interpreter for the deaf. Every Sunday morning I sit on my stool in front of the congregation and sign my husband’s sermon for our deaf members and those watching over the internet as well as those who may view the service on local television.
- Fiction isn’t the way I started out in writing. My first three manuscripts were Bible study workbooks. Lord, I’ve Fallen, Please Help Me Up included a lot about me and I used it when we would go to a new pastorate to introduce myself. The Aroma of Christ was done as a women’s retreat.
- I was a clown in a Christian clown troupe. My name was Polka Dot because I wore a dress with big teal dots all over it.
- I was the high soprano in two Christian singing groups. With one of those groups I even sang on the stage under the presidents’ faces at Mount Rushmore.
- God has given me the privilege to go on two out-of-country mission trips. My first was to South Africa and the second to Haiti. Both were life-changing and I shared them with my daughter.
Paula Mowery is a pastor’s wife
and a former homeschool mom.
She
has always been an avid reader of Christian fiction.
She began
writing in the area of nonfiction creating three
Bible studies
which were self-published.
However, she crafted fiction stories
which she shared
with friends and family. When one of her
readers encouraged her
to pursue publication, she joined
American Christian Fiction Writers,
learning more about the
world of fiction. Her debut work of fiction is a novella
published by Harbourlight, a division of Pelican Book Group, The
Blessing Seer.
Learn more about Paula at her blog — www.paulamowery.blogspot.com.
You can follow Paula at www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187.
Read more of her writing in her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com.
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LEGACY & LOVE
The Prayer Shawl
Sean Holland is a magazine reporter
always looking for the next story. Hope Weaver is a pediatric
nurse who shares Christ through making prayer shawls. The shawls
are just the touchy-feely story Sean needs, even though he’ll
have to endure Hope’s strong Christian beliefs to get it. An
unexpected connection brings them together as a couple. But, can
they find love if they don’t share their faith?
Inheritance
Alex Lyndon’s life has been a series of
fits and starts with no finishes. She finds herself jobless and
divorced. Now her only family, Granny Olivia, is critically ill.
Chase Carson had to step into running
the family business when his father died. The time is past due
for him to visit Miss Olivia.
Alex and Chase must go on a treasure
hunt. Will each find purpose and love for their lives in the
process?
EXCERPT
Copyright
2014 © Paula Mowery
Sean relaxed on his couch, surfing the
Internet. A trip and some travel writing were in his future. He
needed to branch out. The articles he was writing now just
didn’t thrill him. Something was missing. With the approach of
spring just around the corner, he could slip away for a few
weeks. March was the time for spring breaks.
His cell phone buzzed. He glanced at
the screen.
“Hey, Dad.
What’s up?”
“Son, could
you come over to the house?” His tone was serious.
Sean sat up
straight. “Now?”
“Please.”
“I’m on my
way.”
Sean’s heart
raced, and he swiped clammy hands down his jeans. He wasn’t sure
what this was about, but his father’s grave tone drove Sean to
get to his parent’s house immediately.
He gripped
the steering wheel, thinking back ten years ago. His mother had
just moved into the head of the department of English at the
university when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her
mastectomy, the treatments had taken such a toll on her that she
had to retire. Of course, she had said God had worked everything
out, because she then had the time to write and publish her
Bible studies. Sean didn’t think God had anything to do with it.
He pulled
into his parent’s driveway behind his brother’s familiar
minivan. He took a deep breath and bounded through the front
door. He found his parents and brother in the family room. He
crossed and planted a peck on his mom’s forehead, then plopped
down next to Richard on the couch.
“Boys, we
wanted to tell you in person that Mom has breast cancer again.”
His father’s tone was matter-of-fact. Despite that, Sean’s gut
wrenched.
Richard slid
forward, propping his forearms on his knees. “What does that
mean? Same as the last?"
“Not
exactly,” his mother said. “The doctor says this isn’t a
recurrence. It’s a different type of cancer. We proceed one step
at a time. I plan on having the mastectomy, then it depends on
the lymph node tests as to treatments.”
“When?” Sean
blurted out the question before he thought. He cleared his
throat. “I mean, do you have the surgery set”
“Next week,
on Tuesday.” His mother’s voice shook slightly. She swallowed.
“The doctor
is a little more concerned this time. He wishes this had been
caught sooner.” The worry lines in his father’s forehead were
evident.
“But, we need
to flood the situation with prayer. God is in control.” Mother
folded her hands in her lap.
Sean didn’t
share her confidence in prayer, but in this situation he wished
he did. Before he left his parent’s house, he located their
church’s phone directory and entered a number into his cell
contact list.
As soon as he
started his drive toward his apartment, he scrolled to the
number and pressed call.
“Hello?” the
sweet, soothing voice answered.
“Hello, yes,
is this Hope? Hope Weaver, the nurse who makes the shawls?”
“Yes, this is
Hope, and I do crochet prayer shawls. Who…”
“I’m sorry,
this is Sean Holland. We met a couple of months ago at the
hospital. I’m Richard’s brother.”
“Oh, yes, I
remember you.”
“I hope you
don’t mind my call. I need to ask you a favor.”
“Okay?”
“Could you
make one of your prayer shawls for my mother? She has breast
cancer again.”
“I’m sorry to
hear that. But, of course, I would be honored to do that for
Mrs. Holland. She is such a godly woman.”
“Um, yeah.”
She was right, however he didn’t put much stock in all the
religious stuff. But he had seen and heard people give testimony
to these shawls Hope made. If there was any validity to their
claims, he wanted to make sure his mother had one. “Would I need
to pick it up or something?”
“Can I call
you at this number? I usually deliver the shawls myself…”
“Whatever it
is you do.”
“I’ll call
you, and we can deliver it together. Okay?”
“Sure. Yeah.
Thanks.” Sean scratched his head. Was he completely crazy? If
the shawl did nothing else, it would encourage his mother.
Wow - Paula is a woman of many talents!
ReplyDeleteWow, Paula, I feel like I know you a little better now. I will second Carlene-a woman of many talents!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting, Paula. My daughter studied sign language in high school and I taught music to deaf children at a school in upstate NY.
ReplyDelete