Monday, February 15, 2010

Dreams That Won't Let Go - Day One


Dreams That Won’t Let Go Blog Tour & Giveaway










Learn about the Jubilant Soul Series

How did you choose the name for this book series?

The Jubilant Soul series is named for the fictional setting for the three novels in the series – Jubilant, Texas. Jubilant is a metaphor for happiness, and for the reality that many of us routinely search for happiness and contentment “somewhere” else, rather than looking within. That’s what each of the main characters in this series finds themselves doing.

Tell us briefly about each book in the Jubilant Soul series.

The first book in the series is “The Someday List.” This novel features Rachelle Covington, a stay-at-home mother of two and wife of a prominent surgeon. On the surface, life looks picture perfect; but Rachelle finds the courage to accept that she’s simply been going through the motions. A friend challenges her to make a list of goals or dreams that she’d like to someday accomplish, and when Rachelle can’t get past No. 1 on the list, she knows she needs to reclaim her life. A summer visit to her aunt and uncle’s place in Jubilant, Texas helps.

Book Two in the series is “Worth a Thousand Words.” This novel focuses on Indigo Burns, the younger cousin of Rachelle, whom readers meet a few days after her college graduation. Indigo is pretty and smart and has a promising future. She has her life mapped out to the T, but the summer she spends at home before heading off to grad school throws her for a loop. She’s faced with tough choices that will determine the kind of woman she’ll mature into and whether she’ll live to please others or honor the truths in her heart.

Book Three is titled “Dreams That Won’t Let Go.” The novel opens with Indigo expressing frustration over her brother Reuben’s return to the family (similar to the Prodigal Son story); however, the book is mostly about Reuben’s return Jubilant in an effort to smother demons from his past. While he and Indigo dance around their hopes and dreams, their younger sister Yasmin decides to realize hers, regardless of the cost. This book shows the bonds between members of a family and how secrets can often hurt more than they heal.

Quite a few of your characters are in all three books. Do you have a process for remembering details for each character?

Yes, I wrote what I call character sketches about each pivotal character, and referred to it while writing each novel in the series. It might contain the character’s full name, birth order, month and year of birth, likes and dislikes, etc. I can do my best to make those facts line up in each of the books in the series.

Can readers read a book in this series out of order? For example, if they desire to read Dreams That Won’t Let Go, would you recommend they read the first two books first?

Although the books are part of a series, each of the novels, features a different main character, and a different plot; so readers are free to start in whatever order they prefer. They won’t be lost or feel like there are gaps in the story.

Do you have a favorite character from the series?

Yes – like many readers of the series, I love Aunt Melba! She’s the single, older aunt of Rachelle, and great aunt of Indigo, Reuben and Yasmin. She owns Hair Pizzazz, a salon in Jubilant, that serves as a sanctuary of sorts, a place where Aunt Melba’s clients and her family can come for no-nonsense, loving advice. I love this character so much that I’m doing a hair salon book tour in “honor” of what she represents.

What were some lessons you personally learned from developing the characters in this series?

This is a great question, but a tough one! As a writer yourself, Rhonda, you know how the characters often “take over” and begin to tell their story through you. That happened often with this book, and in the process, I learned, or more accurately I was reminded, that God gives us our dreams for His own purposes – sometimes to grow us up, sometimes to bless us so we can bless others, and sometimes to help others pursue their purpose.
What lessons do you want readers to come away with after reading the last book in the series, Dreams That Won’t Let Go?

I’d like readers to come away with several messages: 1) If God gives us a dream, He will bless it in His own way and in his own time; 2) God doesn’t call us to control each other, but to learn how to love unconditionally; and 3) Sometimes the independent perspective of a third party (a minister, a counselor, a trusted friend) can help us heal and grow.

Dreams That Won’t Let Go GIVEAWAY!
WIN a set of signed books from the Jubilant Soul Series AND a free one-hour session with Helena Nyman, an executive coach.  
Answer one or more of the following questions in the comment section to be eligible for the giveaway.
  1. Share one or two paragraphs about the state of your dreams.
  2. Have you read Dreams That Won’t Let Go? How did this novel inspire you to reclaim or pursue your dreams?
  3. What was your favorite book in the Jubilant Soul Series?

About the Author
Stacy Hawkins Adams is a nationally-published, award-winning author and speaker. Her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with social themes and spiritual quests that take readers on journeys into their own souls.

She holds a degree in journalism and served as a newspaper reporter for more than a decade before turning her full attention to penning books, speaking professionally and writing freelance articles.

Stacy lives in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two young children. Visit Stacy online at stacyhawkinsadams.com.

Visit the full blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/DreamsThatWontLetGo.


10 comments:

Stacy Hawkins Adams said...

Thanks for hosting me, Rhonda! I love your blog.
Stacy

Nothing But Books said...

My dream that won't let go! It will be 2 years since my first book That Was Then, This Is Now was published. I must say the overall experience has been great. But I also found that this industry can be brutal. Sometimes finding people to give you an opportunity to show your talent can be discouraging. I thank those who have helped me either by radio and blog interviews or by allowing me to write an article (Rhonda)or/and by purchasing a copy. I desire to someday have the support from a mainstream publisher. Until then, I will continue nurturing my gift and pressing my way through what ever road blocks that are ahead.

Stacy Hawkins Adams said...

Good for you, Paulette. And by the way, your book is on my list to read. :)
You have done a great job with marketing and publicity and with sharing the book's themes in an engaging manner.
Just know that all you're learning during the self-publishing process will be helpful when you land a traditional publisher. You'll still be called on to help with marketing and promotion. So count this all joy. :)
The sign of a dream that's also a mission is one that calls you to press on no matter what. You're on that path!

rhonda mcknight said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rhonda mcknight said...

That state of my dreams - they're coming true. I've had quite a bit of personal success over the last ten years. I went back to school and finished not only my undergrad degree, but a masters. I've been promoted several times at work and managed to raise a wonderful adult child. Now I've also held Secrets and Lies in my hand. Finishing a novel was a huge accomplishment. I'd been trying to do it all my life (LOL), but selling and then seeing the book on the shelf was beyond what I had imagined. It's been great.

As with the sweet, there have been some bitter times, some losses, but God is good and checking things off on the list feels good. Much better than slidding backwards I'm sure.

Blessings,

Rhonda

Stacy Hawkins Adams said...

Wow, Rhonda. That's great. Took a lot of determination to accomplish all of that. Sometimes the losses can set us back, but seems like you kept moving! Your first book baby is awesome, too. Loved it.
Thanks again for hosting me today!

Tyora Moody said...

Rhonda, thanks for hosting Stacy's blog tour today.

Extravagant said...

The states of my dreams are finally coming to fruition. After over 27 years in corporate, I finally decided to walk out on faith and start my new online Bridal & Formal Boutique, which just launched in January 12, 2010. I am prayerful, that despite the economy, my business will do well, because I have stood firmly upon God’s word, and it never comes back void.

As for the novel,” Dreams That Won’t Let Go?” I have not yet had the opportunity to read that novel, or any of the series, but I will make sure that I pick up a copy this weekend, and I’ll get back to you in about two weeks with my comments.

I will not be at liberty to answer this question, in light of my answer to question # 2. I'm not able to leave a responce.

God bless!

~Shovana

CSF said...

My dream is to become a writer. Since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to be an author. That passion and gift of writing was truly given to me by God. I've always written short stories since elementary school via the teacher's CliffHangers series. I was always able to use my imagination and create characters, scenarios, and themes. Right now, after a long time of not writing, I decided that I needed to get back to it--full force with God leading me through it all.

I have read Dreams That Won't Let Go. After reading it, it opened my eyes to see the different routes people take to acheive their goals. It put in perspective for me my lack of action (faith without works, if you will) in reaching and obtaining this dream. It was time for me to stop slacking and talking, and starting positively working! :)

My FAVORITE FAVORITE book was Worth A Thousand Words. Oh!!! It spoke my story to a T! Indie is my girl; she's me!! She was engaged with someone she deeply cared about but did not love and almost married him. So was I. She loved photography and studied it in college, only to temporarily end up working at the salon. I studied Journalism and ended up working for the government. And it was so exciting to read about a character who went through similar if the not the same situations I went through around the same age. I'm getting goose bumps as I write this and whenever I speak about it.

It was through this book that I made the decision to follow my dreams no matter what. To prepare for any opportunity that God places in my path. Just like Indie did. After reading the book in one sitting (while at work when I should have been working, lol) I prayed to God with tears in my eyes to do His will, to carry out this gift of writing, and to make this passion and dream a reality.

Unknown said...

Rhonda thanks so much for hosting this event.

Of the 3 books I've read, The Someday List and Worth a Thousand Words, I cannot pick one. All three covered me at a time when I needed them for the healing they were able to provide.