About the Book

Book: The Stranger

Author: Joy Margetts

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November 22, 2024

What do you do when your life’s work lies in ashes at your feet? When your heart and body are broken and your faith shattered?

Disillusioned, grief-stricken and feeling abandoned by the God he once trusted, Brother Silas runs. He sets out on a lonely journey, not knowing where the path will take him, determined to distance himself from his painful past.

But Silas cannot escape the Love that will not let him go. Through the unexpected kindness of strangers, and a series of inexplicable events, Silas’ heart begins to heal. Then an unlikely reunion puts him back on the path to rediscovering who he really is.

Will Silas find where he truly belongs or will he remain a stranger forever?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Joy combines a life- long love of history and a deep passion for the Word of God to write stories, inspired by her own faith journey. She lives on the beautiful North Wales coast, amidst abbey ruins and ancient pilgrim paths.

More from Joy

I live in a most beautiful area of the UK, on the coast of Wales, surrounded by a stunning landscape of mountains, forests and sea. This is an area that is not only stunning in its natural beauty but also rich with history; castles, abbeys, old churches, and ancient pilgrimage routes. These things inspire my writing, which is why my books are set in medieval Wales, and feature abbeys, monks, knights and maidens. No dragons though! And no murders!

Some years ago now my life was forever changed when I became unexpectedly ill, from what was later diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue. Months of being able to do very little turned into years. Years where I lost much including my job and career, experiences with my children which I will never get back, and my role in ministry. Through this time I questioned all that I had known of God. I had followed Jesus all my life but when things got really tough it felt like He had abandoned me. I didn’t know if I could trust Him any more, if He really cared, if all that I had once believed was actually true. Over time God pursued me, revealing His love for me in unexpected ways, using others to display Himself, helping me to rediscover my faith and choose to trust Him again.

In writing my books I wanted to tell my own story, but through the fictional lives of characters living centuries ago. The Healing, my first novel, told my story of healing and redemption, and no-one was more surprised than I when the book was published. But God had given me a gift to write and He wasn’t finished with one book. The Stranger is actually my fourth novel and the most personal in many ways. The central character has to navigate what it feels like to question his faith in the face of devastating disappointment. I think this is something that many Christians can equate with. The story follows him as he tries to turn his back on his God, and discovers that God does not give up the pursuit of those He loves. It is my story. God pursued me and would not let me go. He is the lover of my soul and has proved faithful. I want my books to carry hope, and to glorify Him.

I love the Word of God. It has been my place of comfort and strength through tough times. My books are littered with scriptural truth, and I make no apologies for that. It is the truth, and believing in the truth, that sets us free.

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, January 10

Vicky Sluiter, January 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 12

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 13 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, January 14 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, January 15 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 16

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 17 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 18

Blossoms and Blessings, January 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20

Artistic Nobody, January 21 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 23 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize of a $35 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54128

Interview

What has been your greatest writing achievement to date?

 This year I was nominated for an industry recognized award here in the UK. My third novel ’The Bride’ was a runner up in the CRT Fiction Book of the Year. I didn’t win but it was a nice feeling to have my work recognized by other people in the Christian Publishing world. My greatest achievements are when people reach out to tell me that my books have impacted their walks with God. A friend’s son read my first book and it brought Him back to faith. That is the best success I could hope for.

Tell us about your writing process.

 I try as much as possible to write in partnership with the Holy Spirit. That means I pray and wait on Him a lot! In the planning stage I usually know which character is going to drive the story and then I ask God what spiritual truth He wants me to include in the book. All of my stories are inspired by my own journey of faith, through difficult seasons. Then usually the plot comes. Each day I spend time in the Word and in prayer before I write. As I face the blank page I invite God to inspire the words and usually they just come. Often I write things I never intended to.

Do you have a favorite character you’ve created? Tell us about them.

 Brother Hywel has become a lot of people’s favourite, and he appears in three out of my four novel. He was  one of two main characters in my first book, and took the role of a spiritual guide and loving companion. He is an amalgamation of all the people in my life who have shown me love, spoke God’s truth into my life, and journeyed with me through tough times. He is the most Christ like of men, and I would love to be more like him! He is also joy filled and mischievous.

 Do you use humor at all in your writing?

I do. My books do tackle hard and deep things at times so I love to use humour as a bit of relief. I always try to have at least one of my characters saying things than make people laugh. I have also found including a animal or pet in my stories gives light relief. In my first book I ended up creating a horse with a very definite character all of his own. He made for some very funny scenes.

When you aren’t writing, what do you enjoy doing?

My life is full. Sometimes too full to write! I am a grandmother and love helping to care for two small grandkids. I am actively involved in church life and do admin for the church. I support my elderly parents who are both frail now, and I keep house for my husband and one son still living at home. As a result of my writing and meeting other like minded writers, I have started a group called Kingdom Story Writers. We run retreats and produce podcasts, and have a Facebook page and website that I help maintain. For fun? I like to read, puzzle, crochet, bake and watch my husband garden! We also have a small terrier who is great fun.