Some families have hope. Others have faith. The Shepherds of rural Oregon have Faith, Hope and Charly, three quirky sisters whose lives change forever when they reluctantly answer a personal calling to help others make amends. Thirty-something single parent Charly Shepherd is satisfied with her life raising two children and thousands of plants in her family-owned Sweet Shepherd Nursery.
Then tragedy strikes. As she and her siblings struggle to keep the nursery going, Charly begins to believe her family’s destiny is greater than raising flowers. When the three sisters reluctantly delve into family secrets to help their ailing father fulfill a promise, their lives change forever as they pursue a new inspirational path of discovery, heartache, humor and redemption. Experience fun, friendship, family and forgiveness – Join the Sisterhood of Shepherds.
Targeted Age Group:: 35-75
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I’ve always loved whodunits and have had several published, however, when I was pondering a new storyline I realized it wasn’t to be a mystery. Was there really a need for yet another sick serial killer? Seemed to me to that the world’s crime novel bookshelf was overcrowded and replete with stories showcasing violence, gore and hatred towards women. So, murder, malice and misogyny was out.
I wanted to create something light-hearted and uplifting that could be a series. This required a story concept that carries beyond one volume. After many fits and starts and dead ends, I fell upon the universal idea of needing redemption, of wanting to make up for a past misdeed.
Then I asked the writer’s key question: what if? What if you realized you had a calling, a special path to assist others in making amends?
I immediately knew this premise had series potential, because everyone of us wishes we could apologize and seek forgiveness for something in our past and I could imagine many diverse storylines. So, I had the plot skeleton, now I needed the character flesh.
The Sisterhood of Shepherds took flight when I then decided to combine a couple of essential elements in my life. I’m the sixth of eight children, and greatly value the challenges, blessings and wackiness of being part of a large family. My siblings are my heroes, my rivals and my best friends. I fancied trying to create a fictional family with some of the subtleties, dynamics and foolishness from my own experiences.
I’m also goofy about gardening, and am forever jazzed by the ever-changing palette of my plantings.
So, why not have a heart-warming story about sisters (I’ve got five so own the T-shirt on sharing, shouting and surviving), whose livelihood depends on plants?
Once these two themes sprouted, I disappeared into the garden of my mind, germinating my gal Charly, her family, and the overall Sisterhood of Shepherds concept.
About the Author:
Nicola Furlong pens mystery & inspirational novels, creates interactive iPad books, podcasts about genre writing (The Novel Experience), & teaches e-publishing, when not playing Old-Timer’s hockey, growing blossoms & bamboo or eating chocolate fudge. Her first contemporary women’s series, the Sisterhood of Shepherds, debuts with HEARTSONG, in June 2014 (MantleRockPublishing).
Nicola’s swinging whodunit, TEED OFF! (republished in February 2014 by OakTreePress), features professional golfer and coroner Riley Quinn.
Her other novels include a psychological thriller (A HEMORRHAGING OF SOULS), six novels in The Church Choir Mysteries series and a multimedia online thriller, UNNATURALSTATES.
In addition, Nicola has published two how to e-book primers, YOUDUNIT WHODUNIT! HOW TO WRITE MYSTERIES & SELF-PUBLISH YOUR E-BOOK IN MINUTES! She’s recently released her first musical interactive children’s book for the iPad, Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks.
Nicola gardens in a small seaside town on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy Heartsong, Sisterhood of Shepherds Print Edition at Amazon
Link to Buy Heartsong, Sisterhood of Shepherds Print Edition at Barnes and Noble
Links to Purchase eBooks
Link To Buy Heartsong, Sisterhood of Shepherds On Amazon
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Book Sample:
