Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!
Character Interview
Beverley: What’s your name?
Melena: Melena Rhyker
Beverley: Where did you grow up?
Melena: Born and raised in Mississippi. Had never left home alone until my venture to Utopia, TX.
Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?
Melena: The Crossed Penn Ranch in Utopia, TX. Although mine is told in modern day, the story of living through grief is timeless.
Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?
Melena: My Heart Weeps begins the day of my husband’s funeral and continues through my journey of grief into new life and possibly new love. Pamela chose to tell my story because she experienced this same level of loss in her own life when her husband passed away in 2009.
Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?
Melena: I hope to show people everywhere that God has a plan for each of our lives and regardless what valleys we go through – death, divorce, loss of a job – there is HOPE on the other side of grief.
Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?
Melena: My biggest conflict is dealing with my husband’s death. Then there’s the choice to open up to the possibility of love again…
Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?
Melena: To think too far ahead much less plan anything is too overwhelming. My only goal but to get through one day at a time as whole as possible.
Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
Melena: I’m an artist. God has given us each a gift or talent. I’ve always used my talent as a means to gift others, but at the Crossed Penn Ranch, my talent flourished into much more than I ever dreamed possible. This is another takeaway from my story…. God is not finished with you! Allow HIM to work through you in whatever gift He has given, and you’ll be amazed, and surprised, at how your life may turn out.
Blurb for My Heart Weeps:
After thirty years married to the man of her dreams, Melena Rhyker is devastated by her husband’s death. Relief comes in the form of an artist’s retreat at the Crossed Penn ranch in Utopia, TX. She rediscovers a forgotten dream as her artistic talent flourishes into that of a gallery-worthy artist. Will she have the courage to follow the path she was destined to travel?
Garrett Saunders has been on the run most of his life. Abused and abandoned as a child, he escapes the clutches of a past filled with pain and shame, and hides from his calling as a Native American healer. His years as a CIA agent aid in overcoming his childhood and honing his talent and skill as a fine art photographer.
Follow their journey as two people who come from totally different backgrounds, but share gifts of gigantic proportions, find meaning and purpose in the Texas Hill Country.
Excerpt from My Heart Weeps :
“So did all this frivolous energy give you any ideas about the future? There’s a light in your eyes that wasn’t there this morning.”
Melena smiled. “You always could look right into my soul. Actually, I’m thinking I should take your advice and quit my job or take an extended leave of absence.”
“I think that’s a great idea. Have you put numbers together with your finances to see how long you could go without a regular income?”
“Only in my head, but I think I have enough for the better part of this year.”
“What will you do? I mean, staying holed up in the house is definitely not healthy.”
Melena leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “It’s never easy, is it? I mean, I get all excited about finally making a decision for myself, and up pops a dozen other issues to consider.”
She thought a moment, shrugged. “Maybe I’ll work on my art. Jon always said I have talent and that I should do something with it. But I’ve been content to use it only as a means to gift others. Maybe if I put as much passion and energy into painting and glass work as I did my marriage, our home, and our life together, I could be successful enough to earn a decent living.” She blew out a breath. “I don’t know…I can’t think past tomorrow or next week, much less the future. It’s all so overwhelming.”
My Heart Weeps is on sale for a limited time @ 99 cents and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Buy Link: https://bit.ly/MyHeartWeeps
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Pam is giving away 1 Ebook, 1 Autographed Print Book, 1 Audio Book, a $15 Amazon Gift Card, a 1-month Audible membership and a SURPRISE Giftpack to 6 lucky people! (1 prize per winner) Names will be collected throughout the tour which ends Sept. 30th. Winners will be notified, and prizes awarded by October 10 th so be sure to leave your EMAIL Address!