Abounding Hope: Q&A with Cindy Kay Stewart + Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Abounding Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Abounding Hope
Series: Circle of Hope #1
Author: Cindy Kay Stewart
Publisher: Hope Springs Press LLC
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: WWII Christian Historical Romance

Poland’s looming defeat forces an American teacher to escape with children wanted by the Nazis. 

It’s late August, 1939, and the world is on the brink of war. The Nazis are threatening Poland, but American teacher Irena Simmons refuses to flee to safety. She’s dedicated her life to serving in her church and school, and she’s watching over the little German boys she whisked to safety the year before. When her former classmate, Jonathan, surprises her in Lvov and insists she leave with him before the war starts, Irena balks. Nothing will interfere with her work—especially a man making demands. 

American shipping magnate Jonathan Huntwell had a crush on Irena in school. When their former classmates select him to travel to Poland and escort her out before it’s too late, he doesn’t expect the inner turmoil she ignites in him. Although honor-bound to aid any friend in trouble, Jonathan acknowledges that Irena is more than an obligation to him. However, he must keep his feelings hidden, or he’ll jeopardize their friendship. 

Irena soon discovers that the Gestapo agent she successfully evaded in Germany has found her in Poland, and he’s after her young charges. When the Germans invade, Jonathan is in Denmark on business, too far away to help. As the rising danger threatens everything Irena holds dear, she must find a way to protect those she loves. 

Based on true events and backed by extensive research, Abounding Hope is sure to delight fans of WWII adventure cloaked in sweet romance. Come to the place where the war began and discover hope in the darkest places.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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About the Author

Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies teacher, current church pianist and Christian historical romance author, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history, Cindy loves to research until she uncovers hidden gems to share with her readers. She resides in North Georgia with her college sweetheart and husband of forty-two years. Her daughter, son-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren live nearby.

Connect with Cindy by visiting cindykaystewart.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Author Interview

Welcome, Cindy! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and giving my readers a chance to get to know you and your new book Abounding Hope.  
 
I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice.  

 

Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio?  

 
I was born and raised in Southern California. 
 
I experienced many earthquakes but learned to live with them. I wasn’t injured, and our home wasn’t damaged. 
 
When I was three-years-old, my mother took me shopping in downtown Los Angeles. I ran off, and a woman in the store gave me a sucker and attempted to take me out of the store. By this time, my mother had reported that I was missing. I had red hair and was wearing a red dress, so the security guard stopped the woman escorting me and asked if I was her child. She said, “No,” and I was promptly delivered back to my mother. 
 
When I was in college, I spent 11 weeks in Taiwan on a missions trip. Our group of five girls arrived in the country one day late, and no one was at the airport to meet us. We didn’t speak the language, and it took almost a day and several interesting experiences to be “found” again. 
 
I was a voracious reader before I became a writer.  

 

 
When did you first discover you had a passion for writing? 

 

I wrote my first book of short stories and poems in 2nd grade. My 6th grade teacher assigned our class to write a number of fiction stories based on prompts she created. I loved writing the stories and discovered that they were a way of escape and entertainment. It wasn’t until my daughter was married that I was able to pursue my dream of writing a novel. Now that I’m retired from teaching, I’m able to write full time. 
 
What drew you to writing WWII romance?  

 

I’ve read and re-read Bodie & Brock Thoene’s WWII series, The Zion Covenant. The sixth book ends in Warsaw during the beginning days of WWII. The main characters escaped by boat on a river, but how they managed their liberation was left to the reader’s imagination. I had to find the answer and started researching. I discovered a wealth of interesting escapee stories, which eventually led to the writing of Abounding Hope. WWII is a fascinating time period to study because so many miracles took place in the midst of great tragedy. There never has been a time in history when so many people sacrificed so much to save the world from evil. Romance adds soft and intriguing elements to stories about such a difficult time in history, and, of course, romances have a “happily ever after” ending. 

  
What does your writing routine look like? 

After I retired this past May and we moved to a new house shortly after, I worked morning, noon, and night to polish Abounding Hope and prepare for her release. In the coming days, I hope to establish a 9:00 to 5:00 routine for writing and marketing.  

 

What is the most surprising/interesting thing you found while researching this story?  

Even though Hungary and Germany were trading partners and considered allies, the Hungarians allowed over a hundred thousand Polish soldiers and civilians to escape Poland without passports and visas. The soldiers, and later some of the civilians, joined the Allies in fighting Germany for the rest of the war. The Polish Army reformed to become the 5th largest army on the side of the Allies. 

  

Can you tell us a little bit more about Abounding Hope?  

 

The main characters are civilians who learn to surrender their expectations and trust the Lord through their harrowing experiences. They also found love. 😊 
 
What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life? The most rewarding? 

 

The most challenging facet was developing the characters and their growth arcs while staying true to the actual historical events. It was essential for the characters to respond according to their personalities rather than what the plot dictated. The most rewarding part of bringing this story to life was witnessing how Biblical truths can be woven into every experience.   
 
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?  

 

Don’t give up. Never lose hope. Surrender your plans to the Lord and allow Him to work all things together for good in your life. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Before you go, where can readers follow along to see what’s coming next?  

 

I’d love for readers to join my monthly newsletter so I can keep them informed of my upcoming projects. In 2024, I plan to release a prequel novel set in Germany and the full-length sequel to Abounding Hope set in Norway and France. 

 

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of Abounding Hope, and an e-book copy of Escape (true stories of escape from WWII)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 9, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 16, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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