Please welcome Angela Meyer to the blog this week. She has a new release coming in September, Where Healing Starts. Here’s a little bit more about the book:

Joanna, full of bitterness over the past, can no longer ignore the growing storm inside her and is bent on self-destruction as she seeks to ease her pain. But the refuge she seeks is always out of her reach.

Her brother Blake must choose between what has always been safe and what he has always wanted. One mistake after another leads him down a dangerous path.

The one for all, all for one sibling bond can’t help them now. They are both determined to hang onto their anger, never forgetting. Never forgiving. They see no reason to trust God.

After so many years of turmoil, will the Hannigan siblings find refuge in the God who loves them? Or will they get lost along the way?

Sounds great. Tell us a little more about what inspired you to write the book.

My newest release, Where Healing Starts, is book two in the Applewood Hill series. This series shares the stories of the Hannigan siblings, each one affected by the harsh upbringing of their father, but responding with a different coping mechanism.

Over the years, my sisters and I had numerous conversations about how we “turned out” in life. My parents were loving and kind, although, as most families, also had its unique personality and dysfunctions. We wondered what parts of us were developed from that upbringing. While we all had the same environment more or less, we each entered adulthood with different quirks and struggles in life. This fascinated me and was the seed for the Applewood Hill series.

I also wanted to explore that area between normal conflict within a family and outright abuse. That place where there is too much anger, but no malicious, intentional abuse and yet…children are hurt. Wounds fester. And lives are broken.

That place where wounded people wound others and leave a lasting, often devastating mark.

But then God steps in. He redeems. He restores. He heals. He gives hope. He sets free.

A part of the series so far that mirrors a portion of my adult life is found in Where Hope Starts, the first book in the series. My husband and I have walked through the difficult days of marriage. Of betrayal and redemption.  Parallel to editing this story, I was walking my own journey of forgiveness. I added many fictional plot points and the timeline was compressed because well…its fiction. However, much of the emotional responses, thinking behind the main character’s choices to forgive, came from my own experience.

In Where Healing Starts, you will get to know two more of the Hannigan siblings and see the process of God’s redemption and healing grace in their lives.

While no one person in this series represented any one person I know, the other siblings and their choices had bits and pieces of people I have been in contact with during my life. Their pain and wounds and healing. Somewhere inside every writer’s fictional story is bits and pieces of themselves, the emotions, world view, experiences, hopes, dreams and questions. These are mine.

You are very right about that, Angela.

Angela D. Meyer, author of The Applewood Hill Series, lives in NE with her husband of 25 years and their high school daughter. Their son serves our country in the Marines. Angela enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, connecting with friends and encouraging women to grow in their faith. One of her dream spots to vacation is next to the ocean and someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon.

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Coming Soon:
Cover reveal of Where Healing Starts Angela’s new release.
Pre-order special for Where Healing Starts: At the time of your purchase, receive a free download of Where Hope Starts, book 1 in the Applewood Hill series.
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Thanks so much for sharing your story, Angela! It’s been great to have you.