Ever have people in your life who you just look at and think, “No way can they really be that sweet.”
Well, that’s how I feel about friend and fellow author Sunni Jeffers, and I’m excited she’s with us today. So let’s get started!
A quick heads up: She’s giving away a copy of her brand new book, Heaven’s Strain, on the blog today, so be sure and enter to win. Details below.
But first, a quick chat…
What’s the new book about?
Heaven’s Strain is a “What if…” book—a story that will take you on a fascinating ride with characters who will grab hold of your heart and insist you come along. Heaven’s Strain is suspense with angels, genetic engineering, and a love story with impossible odds.
How on earth did you think of such a cool concept?
I find story ideas in many ways and places, but in this case, it came from a Bible verse that has fascinated me for a long time. I had to explore the possibilities. It took me into the amazing realm of genetics, and kept opening more and more questions. Then I began meeting the cast of characters that inhabit this story world, and they insisted I tell their story.
Here’s the verse: “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.…There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:1-4, KJV
What if those sons of God were fallen angels, as legend claims and as some people believe? How would it effect the gene pool? And with today’s advances in the realm of genetics, what possibilities and problems could exist.
What about the characters? What are they like?
A story has to be about someone. When I asked “What if” about the Bible verses, Phanuel, a Prince of Guardian angels, and Amaliah, a beautiful Hebrew girl, introduced themselves to me and immediately won my sympathy. I wanted to know their story, but they wouldn’t tell me. I had to meet the lovely geneticist, Dr. Ellen Larson to find out more. Then Rafe Zacharias, a burned-out LA policeman, burst onto the scene, demanding his role in the story, and Homer Wilton, a very sick old man, claimed a place in my heart.
Have a favorite character in this book?
I adore Ellen and Homer, but Rafe is my favorite. He’s so human and struggles deeply with honor and justice, yet feels unworthy of either.
What’s brewing on the back burner?
A sequel. I fell in love with the characters and can’t say goodbye, so I’m starting work on another book. This summer, my amazing brainstorming friends helped me plot the bones of two more books to follow this one.
BUY it in print
BUY it in e-book
Spiritual forces are at work to destroy mankind…
Dr Ellen Larson has heard myths of fallen angels, but she has no idea they exist—or that they’re after her. She has enough on her mind—her research and her own strange DNA, which she’s kept secret since she discovered a mutation in medical school that’s never been seen before.
Then the impossible happens. Two patients admitted to the University Medical Center—Rafe Zacharias and Homer Wilton—have the same genetic mutation! Without transfusions, the men will die. Ellen can’t withhold what may be their only hope: her blood. She has no choice…
Her secret must come out.
Unseen, a battle rages around them. A battle to bring an ancient curse to life. Ellen, Rafe and Homer are pawns in a war mankind can’t afford to lose…
GIVEAWAY
Sunni is giving a book to a lucky reader who leaves a comment on this blog today. Just tell us:
If you have a favorite genre OR if you’re an “all over the map” reader? And what’s your all-time favorite novel…of all time? 🙂
Only US and Canada mailing addresses are eligible for a print book. If outside North America, it’ll be an e-book.
Sunni Jeffers is the award-winning author of 15 books. Her life has taken many turns, from Navy wife and mother, to security business owner and office manager, to cattle rancher—all of this in partnership with her wonderful husband of 48 years. She began writing after her kids left home, during the transition from business owner to rancher. Now she writes as she and her husband travel the country most of the year, living in their home-on-wheels.
Connect with Sunni on:
Her Website
Facebook
Pinterest
Google+
Goodreads
Tamera Alexander
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I jump genres all the time, now I am reading Christian fiction,romance and suspense.
My favorite book is a recent one, “The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate” I like the way she jumps between years, the scenes of the Outer Banks and the idea of putting prayers in a box.
Hi Linda, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Our tastes in books match. I do like a bit of fantasy or supernatural once in awhile, too. Not the sci-fi kind so much. The Prayer Box is on my to-be-read pile. Thanks for adding your recommendation.
This sounds like a really interesting book!
Oo, hard questions for book-lovers! Well, I guess I am more of an “all over the map” person, as long as it is Christian and decent. I do especially love Biblical fiction, as well as allegorical Christian fiction. 🙂
As for a favourite book of all time….too hard!! I’ll try… okay, (besides the Bible of course), anything by Tessa Afshar. Or Chuck Black. Or Stephanie Landsem. Or Sarah Sundin. Or Mesu Andrews. Or Kate Breslin.
Okay, see my point? Impossible! =D
LOL, Raechel. You are all over the map. I love that! I tend to write that way. I hate getting locked into a box. Thanks for checking out my post!
My favorite genre is historical fiction, but I also enjoy modern romance, sci-fi, and fantasy. My all-time favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice.
Great book, Sheila. Heaven’s Strain has a little of all of that. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
All over the map for sure!! That’s the beauty of all these fabulous authors; God calls them to write different styles but the message is always the same – the sweet Love of God, that’s neat. And my all time favorite novel would have to be ‘Sophie’s Heart’ by Lori Wick. I re-read that one every few years and I will never stop loving the humanity and vulnerability of the characters. Woohoo, love it.
You’re right about all these fabulous authors, Helen. I’m honored to be a guest here today. Thanks for commenting here.
I jump around in genre, Historical fiction anything I like but mostly Christian based. It has to be clean. I don’t really have a favorite book, there are so many great authors I’ve read it would be hard to pick one.. But, your book, suspense with angels, genetic engineering, and a love story with impossible odds. Now that is definitely one I’d pick out of a stack of a books to read first.
Thanks Deanna. It’s good to hear there are others, like me, who read all over the place. If you read mine, I hope you enjoy it.
It depends on my mood as to what I read at the time. I always read something with romance whether it’s mystery, suspense, Amish, or general fiction. Besides romance it needs a happy ending and has to be clean with a Christian base. It would be very difficult to choose one all time favorite. Usually it’s the one I’m reading at the time.
Sounds like you’ve been reading some great books, Gail. You must have the ability to let go of everything around you and get lost in a story. That makes reading so enjoyable. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
It sounds fascinating, Sunni. 🙂
Thanks, Ane. And thanks for stopping by.
I read a variety of genres and am looking more and more to blogs like this one for ideas on what to read next. This book sounds intriguing and different from most I’ve read. Determining what would be my favourite novel of all time would be like asking which child is my favourite! The first time I remember finding it very difficult to wait for the next book in a series was when I was introduced to the Zion books by The Thoen’s. Thankfully, my friend owned the next book and it was just a matter of connecting with her to borrow her book! Now it is harder to have to wait for the next publishing date!
I know what you mean about waiting for books in a series, Elaine. I’ve been the same way. Thanks for leaving a comment here.
Hi, Sunni! Thanks so much for visiting Inspired by Life…and Fiction today. The premise of your new book sounds amazing. All my best wishes to you!
Hey Becky, nice to see you here. Thanks for the wishes, and same to you. I just subscribed to this blog and look forward to reading all the posts What a great group of authors! Don’t know why I didn’t before, except I’m new to this world of blogging.
Sunni,
As Elaine said previously, your story sounds intriguing and I hope to ready your book soon. Best wishes and prayers for the outreach through your book.
Sunni,
OOPS! Silly me. I was supposed to share more information about what books I read. I skip around genre’s but they have to be clean, interesting and not scary (suspense is ok such as Ted Dekker’s books, but they cannot be graphic or ditsurbing). I simply love to read and get caught up in a story that has redeeming value. I just recently finished the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love is a wonderful favorite as well as books by Janette Oke.
Hi Jennifer, I love Dee Henderson’s books, And Francine is up there with the all-time great authors, in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Thank you for the wishes and prayers. Definitely appreciated!
Hi Jennifer, I just learned from Tamera that you are the winner of my book. Please send me your mailing address to my email:
sunni.jeffers@gmail.com. I’ll get a book off to you ASAP. Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it.
I tend toward historical fiction, mostly nineteenth or twentieth century, but I enjoy women’s fiction and lately Lisa Carter’s romantic suspense. I can’t say I have a favorite book, but among my favorite authors are Davis Bunn and Lori Wick.
Hi Terri, thanks for stopping by. I’m not familiar with Lisa Carter’s books. I’ll have to look them up. I love historical novels, and the ladies on this blog are some of the best authors of historical fiction I’ve ever read, without going back to several authors from the late 1800s, early 1900s. It’s an honor to be a guest here.
I love suspense…To pick my favorite would be so hard! I love Terri Blackstock, Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble and Brandilyn Collins…my list can go on and on. To pick one, ugghhh! I think Colleen Coble’s Mercy Falls Series would be the one I remember as one of the best I have read. However there is always room for more!
Thank You!
That’s quite an illustrious list of authors, Kristie. And you’re right. There is always room for more. Isn’t it wonderful that great books keep being written and published for our pleasure and encouragement? Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I’m an all-over-the-map reader though I tend to go through phases. And anything with a little romance thrown in tends to intrigue me more. Heaven’s Strain sounds fascinating!
Thanks, Sparksofember. I’m like that too. I tend to get interested in a genre and lap up everything I can find, then jump to another. But I love a good love story. Always. Thanks for leaving a comment here!
I’m pretty much “all over the map”! If I read several books from one genre, I’m ready to change to something else. Christy may be my all time favorite read but I have so many favorites!
I loved Christy. That was a great book! Then I read everything I could find by Catherine Marshall. She was my age when she died (too young), but she left quite a legacy. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
I read almost everything that I can get my hands on, but historical romance is probably my favorite. This book looks so interesting. My husband and I have interesting discussions about that passage of scripture quite often. Looking forward to reading this book. It might bring about another discussion 🙂
You’re right, Lori. It is a fascinating passage. I do not purport to know the answer as to who or what those men or the Nephilim were, but it gave me lots of room to set my imagination free. I did a lot of reading up on ancient Hebrew legends and history which is fascinating. I love history, and always try to include some in my books. I tend to get lost in the research, it is so fascinating.
I am so excited for your new book! My all time favorites are Christian historical fiction. My all time favorite is Pride and Prejudice.
Thanks, Cindy. Every book I write is part of my heart, but this one took more time and research than any other book I’ve written, so I spent a lot of time then and since in this story world. It’s a far cry from Pride and Prejudice, but I think you would fall in love with the characters. Ellen, Rafe and Homer, and Phanuel and Amaliah, to name the main characters. Then there are the guardian angels. They’ve all become like best friends to me. I know that sounds goofy, but it’s true.
I’m so excited to read Heaven’s Strain!!! I used to never enjoy reading; that is until I was introduced to the wonderful world of Christian romance suspense. Christian suspense is definitely my favorite genre, and my favorite book is Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris.
I’m so glad you discovered the joy of reading, Beth. My mom’s name was Beth, and she was an avid reader. She would bring home stacks of books from the library every week for our family of 6 readers. I’ve written a lot of different kinds of books, but I think my favorite is romantic suspense. Lisa Harris is a wonderful author. Thanks for commenting here. I appreciate it!
Heaven’s Strain sounds like a great book and is now on my to read list! I am also a genre jumper, I love all kinds of books. If I had to pick just one I think I’d have to go with christian suspense/romance. My all time favorite book is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
Francine Rivers Redeeming Love is up with my all-time favorite books, too, Lena. She sets the bar very high for all the other Christian writers, but that’s all right. No matter what we write, we want to glorify and magnify the Lord. Thanks for visiting today and leaving a comment.
I tend to be an “all-over” reader too! BUT it absolutely HAS to be Christian or nothing at all…nothing like reading a “good” book and then running into an intimate scene or a curse word or two (I shudder to think, yuck!) I love historical romance, especially the Regency era, I just started to read a LOT of these lately. But I also love Suspense (think Terri Blackstock & a few others), Amish fiction(Janette Oke, Beverly Lewis & the like), Frank Perretti ( I own all his books)….not much into Ted Dekker he tends to go a little too far in some of his books (my opinion only, though.), Historical fiction (various authors). I guess it comes down to I just love reading!! I also do LOVE Medical suspense (think Harry Lee Kraus) so this book would be right up my alley! It sounds like a fascinating story, one I have wondered and imagined for myself. There are quite a few scriptures that can be open to our human interpetation & I can definitely see where this would be one of those. As for my all-time favorite novel…that’s a tough one, but what stands out in my mind is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (oh I love her too!). The message that the book has in it is exactly how passionately God pursues us…wow!! What a love our Savior has for us. Thank you for a great interview & sharing your heart with us! I look forward to reading this. Blessings to you & yours Sunni!
I love regency romance, Trixi. I haven’t read any for several years, but I know there is a resurgence of regencies in Christian publishing. I’ll have to check that out. You are an eclectic reader. There are so many great books, and so little time. Sigh. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I’m loving meeting readers and hearing what books and genres you all love and are reading. It makes me want to grab a book off my TBR pile and get lost in a story. But first I need to get a good start on Heaven’s Child, which will follow Heaven’s Strain.
I must admit a preference for Historical Fiction, but I read many different genres. My all-time favorite novel recently changed to Laura Frantz’ The Colonel’s Lady. I have read it at least 10 times so far. Heaven’s Strain sounds like an intriguing novel and I would love a chance to win it.