Celebrating a New Book Series Featuring Lori Soard

Today I'll be introducing you to an author from a wonderful book series called Our House on Jakaranda Laan. All the stories In this series, take place In the fictitious town of Cedarfontein, South Africa on Jacaranda Lane. Read on to learn about one author and her story.

First off, tell my readers your book title, the genre for your book and the time frame it takes place? 
Thanks so much for hosting me here today. My book is called The Ranger’s Restoration. It is a Contemporary Christian Romance taking place in present day.

Give us a short book blurb about your story and characters.
Lionel Garrick lost the woman he was going to marry due to his best friend's treachery. Now he's returned to Cedarfontein, bitter and cynical, but being a ranger in the wetlands surrounding the town suits him just fine. Some wounds never heal. The woods ask nothing of him, and the inhabitants of the forest never lie.

Then Ariel Brooks arrives․ 

Lionel's childhood best friend Ariel Brooks has arrived from the United States to stay for two weeks. She doesn’t expect Lionel to have grown into a man who keeps everybody at arm's length, setting an emotional distance she can never cross. But instead of letting him disappear behind guilt and heartbreak, she nudges him back toward the community that never stopped caring about him.

As autumn settles upon Cedarfontein, old memories intermingle with new friendships, and Lionel and Ariel wonder whether the love they’d each been looking for was always there.

But before Lionel can tell Ariel that he loves her, he must first learn to deal with his past grief, and to understand that restoration isn't found by outrunning the past...it's found by trusting the One who can make all things new.

What inspired you to write this story?
God works in mysterious ways. I pray for the next story that has the message that will reach that ONE person God wants to hear it. I was listening to a Lionel Ritchie song and thinking how much God blessed him with songwriting and singing ability. I realized the name Lionel was a pretty great name. I looked up the meaning and it simply means “lion.” Then, I started to think about what makes lions unique. They are fearless, strong and family focused. 

This led me to remembering the lion in the C.S. Lewis books. I kept turning it over and over and eventually decided my character would be named Lionel. That he would be a fierce warrior for God, but that he had a few flaws to overcome first, as any good hero in a story does. 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I got a letter from a retired history professor recently about my most recent release. He told me that my perspective was one he appreciated. In particular, he was speaking of a comment I made that things have a way of working out and that God has a purpose. He said he wished he’d learned that earlier in life. It warmed my heart that in his moment of loss, struggle and uncertainty, God used my words to heal something in him and give him a fresh perspective.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
“Get over yourself.” When I was fresh out of college, I got a job working as a stringer for my local hometown newspaper. The editor was fierce. He’d mark up my articles, tell me to cut words and he’d often say, “Cut all that fluff. Get over yourself. You’re not that great of a writer yet.”

It sounds harsh, but the skills he taught me, including how to have a tough skin when receiving feedback, have stayed with me throughout my career. He also would frequently say, “I need more Lori in this piece. How do you see the world?”

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
If you truly love writing, don’t let anyone or anything discourage you. I’ve often said it’s all a numbers game. Keep submitting your work, or publishing it, and just keep creating.

If you hate writing, do anything else, because it will probably pay better. LOL

What other books do you have in the works? 
My second Mildred Wiggins mystery novel releases in December and I have a book coming up in the Mountain Men 3 series. I’m also working on a children’s book with my little granddaughter, but it’s slow going because my drawing skills are not my strength.

 
That's all for today's interview. To learn more about Lori's books, click on the links below.

Website: https://lorisoard.com
Newsletter signup: https://tinyurl.com/JoinLoriSoard

And here's a special bonus...Get a FREE eBook as part of this series. It's a cookbook that features recipes of some of the characters in the Our House series and introduces you to each of them and their story. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6i3sifi9ss