Each day I am humbled by the response to Contingency & Indemnity, especially the emotional connection readers have with the characters and their struggles with the God they cling to. This week we contracted to produce three more books. This is a scary prospect. What if the first ones were a fluke? What if these aren't as good? What if they don't engage readers? What if they aren't as deep, or though-provoking or genuine? (You see, being a writer is a lot like mental illness…)I love Bobbi and Chuck dearly, but in the next books, the Foundations Series, I'll introduce you to my favorite characters. Here's a quick peek at what's ahead.
Book 1: Razed
Razed means to destroy something utterly. You can't repair. You must rebuild.
A God who lets a 40-year-old woman die from cancer can't be good. That's Doug Bolling's theology. He can't seem to connect with his son, Mark, who found Jesus because of his mother. The more Mark grows in his faith, the wider the rift becomes. A series of events in Mark's life, from a call to preach, to a pastorate, to seminary, to the mission field are utterly incomprehensible to Doug, and he interprets them as extremism bordering on insanity. God may have ripped away his wife and now his son, but Doug draws the line at his grandchildren. In a desperate attempt to snatch them back from a life of who knows what, he files a lawsuit, seeking custody of the children.
Book 2: Refined
To be refined is to have all the impurities removed, to be distilled to your true self.
Mark has been obedient to God's call every step of the way, but now God issues the most difficult challenge of all- surrendering his children. Mark and his family are forced to leave the mission field in Kenya and come home for the legal battle of a lifetime. I can't tell you any more without spoiling the surprises. But Bobbi, Chuck and 14-year-old Jack make appearances in this one.
Book 3: Resolute
Resolute is boldly committed, settled and sure.
Doug is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and his and Mark's relationship must undergo a final adjustment. Mark gives up the mission in Africa for his father. It's a story of holding on to faith even when the path leads in a direction you never anticipated, and requires more from you than you want to give. (Shannon Molinsky has married Doug's oldest grandson so she plays a role in the story and Chuck and Bobbi pop in briefly. )
Refined was drafted before Contingency, so with this series, you'll get my actual "first" book. Doug Bolling was supposed to be a villain, but from the moment he stepped onto the page, I liked him. A lot. Working with him, he's become my favorite character of all. Cassandra Grayson, showed up after the outline was done and promptly stole every scene she was in. They have a unique relationship and a beautiful love story.
When will Foundations release? Good question. We'll see how the summer goes, how Precedent does, how homeschooling for high school works… I'll keep you posted.
Thank you for all your encouragement and your support!
In the past, I've used Friday posts for book news and updates. 