Hello again! I’m wrapping up the 2020 ACFW Carol Award finalist interviews with Naomi Stephens and her Carol Award finalist book Shadow Among Sheaves! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.
Make sure you’re following me on Instagram as I’ll be posting the winners there tonight starting around 5:30pm Eastern, or shortly thereafter.
Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight.
Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London. Visit her at www.naomistephens.com
SHADOW AMONG SHEAVES
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Shiloh Run Press
RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2019
PAGES: 320
A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz
The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.
Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.
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Hi Naomi! Welcome to the blog!
Q: How has Christian fiction impacted you personally?
Naomi: I started reading Christian fiction in college when a friend loaned me her copy of Francine Rivers’s Redeeming Love. I was completely swept away by the depth of the story, the characters, and its fabulous redemption arch.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve learned what a kind, supportive family the Christian fiction community is. Everyone lifts everyone up. This journey has definitely brought me full circle from my college days, and I’m so honored to be a part of the community.
Carrie: I absolutely agree with you! This community is the best & I know well that ‘come full circle’ feeling!!
Q: When you’re not writing your next award-nominated book 😉 who are your fave authors to read & why?
Naomi: Oh, there are so, so many! A few favorites, in no particular order (because it’s more fun that way): Jane Austen, Ray Bradbury, A.A. Milne, Amy Harmon, Anna Lee Huber, Juliet Marillier, Charles Dickens, Julie Klassen, Charlotte Bronte, C.S. Lewis, Francine Rivers, Sandra Cisneros, Dr. Seuss, Julianne Donaldson, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Gaskell, Harper Lee, Baroness Orczy.
Carrie: Can I just say that I love that Dr. Seuss is in the same list as these other powerhouses of fiction? He doesn’t get enough recognition!
Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?
Naomi: Well, I’m definitely a pantser as opposed to a plotter, which admittedly gets me in trouble from time to time—so, does occasionally weeping while I write myself out of a corner count? 😉
Carrie: haha! We’ll allow it 😉
Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve googled lately while researching a book?
Naomi: Not necessarily something I deliberately Googled, but I recently studied up on 18th-century laundry washing and learned that stale urine was often used as bleach. I had no idea!
Carrie: ewwwwww lol
Q: What is something God taught you while you wrote Shadow Among Sheaves?
Naomi: Thankfulness. Thankfulness for those who have taught me, for a solid education, for all the authors who influenced me, for friends and family who have supported me, for those who read early drafts and weren’t afraid to be brutally honest. In my experience, there is no ivory tower from which a novel comes into existence—and that can be a pretty humbling realization. But on this writing journey, I saw with perfect clarity all the people and opportunities God has put directly in my life to make something like this possible. And I am thankful.
Carrie: amen ♥
I am offering one reader any TWO books (print copies) that finaled in the 2020 Carol Awards! (open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your address) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the debut novel Carol Award finalist Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens & what did you enjoy about Naomi’s answers?
Sounds like a good book.
I love reading about different cultures combining/colliding in historical fiction. And for the answers, who knew about stale urine as bleach? Ewwwwwwwwwww is right!
Another book in my insurmountable TBR…
I SO agree! The CF community is Amazing!
Naomi and I enjoy some of the same authors…. Julie Klassen, Charlotte Bronte, C.S. Lewis.
I’m very glad that she feels very supported by the Christian Fiction writing community. That’s very important stuff! I also didn’t know that stale urine was once used as bleach….gross.
Sounds like a clever way of re-telling the story of Ruth!
Your Shadow Among Sheaves sounds fabulous! I really want to read it!
This is a new author to me.
I like the author’s different setting for the allegory of the story of Ruth. I will enjoy learning more of the history of the Great Rebellion of 1857.
I like that it compares to Ruth in the bible. Nice cover. It sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
Her career writing progression sounds perfectly logical to me and I like the book premise.
A meeting of two world – I love it.
I really liked this book! Ruth and Boaz is one of my favorite Bible stories, so this allegorical tale was fantastic!
I read this book and it is a winner. Great debut!
I would love to read this book!
I love that Dr. Seuss & A.A. Milne are both on her faves list…incredible & creative authors!! This sounds like another “must-read”!! 🥰📚
right? I loved that too
Nice cover. It sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Sounds interesting.
Hi from another Naomi! Love scripture retelling! Congrats on the nomination!
I love this unique historical twist on the story of Ruth. Can’t wait to read this book!
This book has been on my TBR since I heard about it! I love these kinds of stories.