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Hi, reader friends! Today’s featured author just released her debut novel this year. YAY! We’re talking about her favorite ways to chill and she’s put together a lovely giveaway for y’all!
About the Author
Karen Sargent creates characters whose imperfect faith collides with real-life conflicts, taking readers on a journey through grace and redemption to discover enduring hope. A romantic element is woven within each story. In addition to writing inspirational novels, she blogs at The MOM Journey, where moms aren’t perfect and that’s perfectly okay. Her writing has also been featured in Guidepost’s Angels on Earth.
Karen has a B.S. in English-Secondary Education and an M.A. in Teaching Rhetoric and Composition from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she is not writing, she teaches high school and college English and resides in the beautiful Arcadia Valley with her husband and two daughters.
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Five Favorite Ways to Chill
Karen: Dividing time among my family, my students, and my characters leaves little “me” time. But when I do get a day to chill, I don’t waste a minute on anything important!
Beth: I hear ya, Karen!!! I’m taking notes here…
Karen: I’m a PJ addict and love spending the day in my jammies…no make-up, messy hair don’t care. If my PJs are reclined on the couch, that’s even better!
Beth: Oh, I like where this is going! Me and jammies are bffs ???? Step one: JAMMIES!
Karen: And if my PJs are reclined on the couch, I must be binge-watching TV—a romantic comedy (probably The Proposal for the 48th time), Downton Abbey, or Hallmark Christmas movies.
Beth: Those are nice choices! I usually choose binge-reading! Step two: BINGE!
Karen: I can’t chill without a mug of cream and sugar with a touch of coffee. Some drink their coffee black. I drink mine white.
Beth: Hmmm… I’m not a coffee drinker but I could go for a mug of hot chocolate or hot apple cider! Step three: MUG of YUM!
Karen: Purple makes me chill. Chances are my PJs are purple, my coffee mug is purple, and quite honestly, Heaven just might be purple.
Beth: Ummm… Step four: Purple? 🙂
Karen: Okay, so maybe Heaven won’t be purple, but sunsets are. A tranquil shade of lavender as the sun goes down on a Gulf Coast sugar-sand beach definitely makes me chill.
Beth: I can get on board with that! We have a big porch on the west side of our home, perfect for watching the sunset. Step five: SUNSET!
I feel more chill already 😉
Books
Tell us about your latest release
Karen: Waiting for Butterflies was inspired by the death of my mother-in-law, who passed away unexpectedly and too young at 61. She adored her three granddaughters, ages 3 and under, but often said she wouldn’t live to see them grow up.
The night she passed, we received the dreaded late-night phone call and asked a friend to babysit the girls so my husband and I could stay with his dad. We returned the next afternoon surprised to learn our five-month-old had slept through the night for the very first time. She slept through for the next week.
On the eighth night, while we were lying in bed, I said to my husband, “Ever since your mom died, the baby hasn’t woken up at night.” He was quiet for a few moments and then whispered, “Mom, if you’re here, you can go.” The baby didn’t sleep through that night or for the next several months.
I don’t know what I believe about those eight nights, but it raised a question in my mind: What if a mother isn’t ready to leave her family? My imagination played with the question, and the answer became Waiting for Butterflies.
Beth: What a powerful experience, Karen.
However, when I wrote Waiting for Butterflies, I didn’t realize I was approaching controversy. I hadn’t considered the biblical aspect of Maggie returning to her family and that some Christian readers might be offended. I simply wrote about a mother’s enduring love.
I was grateful to read one reviewer’s comments on Goodreads: “While I was initially put off by the idea that a spirit can remain and interact, in a sense, with those still living, the author handled it with sensitivity and grace. We all have ideas about the unknown, but it is just that, unknown, and I could relate strongly to the thought of wanting to continue to influence and connect with loved ones after death in order to help them.”
A mother’s love never ends–not even when her life does.
Longing for her family after her sudden death, Maggie becomes a lingering spirit and returns home where she helplessly witnesses her family’s downward spiral in the aftermath of her passing.
Her husband is haunted by past mistakes and struggles to redeem himself. Her teenage daughter silently drowns in her own guilt, secretly believing she is responsible for her mother’s death. Only her five-year-old, full of innocence, can sense her presence.
Although limited by their grief and lack of faith, Maggie is determined to keep a sacred promise and salvage her family before her second chance runs out.
A tender portrait of a mother whose love reaches beyond possible, WAITING FOR BUTTERFLIES will embrace your heart and not let go.
goodreads | amazon
Beth: Readers can read reviews and special content in the Waiting for Butterflies book tour.
What are you working on now?
Karen: My work in progress is set in the same fictional town as Waiting for Butterflies and is also a redemption story involving characters with imperfect faith enduring real-life conflicts. However, there are no “lingering spirits” in this one! Readers who enjoy Butterflies will want to watch for Her Mother’s Daughter – Three mothers. Three Daughters. Three Secrets.
Beth: Happy writing, Karen! Thank you so much for taking the time to chill with us today and share your bookish news!
Giveaway
Karen Sargent has generously provided a fabulous giveaway. Enter to win a signed book, a Hobby Lobby gift card, and a pendant that reads: “She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain.” Louisa May Alcott
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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How do you chill, reader friends?
Faithfully Bookish 
I chill in the evening after my children are in bed. Then the books come out, I usually bring a stack of them out to decide which I will read. I get my fuzzy socks, I light a scented wax and drink my two cups of tea while just chillin. It’s an excellent way to spend the evening!
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A perfect end to the day, Deanne!
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That sounds lovely, Deanne!
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I love to chill with either a good book or movie to help me escape and unwind from the chaos known as life.
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Books, movies–both great escapes, Jamie! 🙂
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Absolutely!
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Purple is my favorite color! My bedroom is purple, my coffee mug is purple. I chill by reading and drinking herbal tea every night before bed.
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Purple is such a happy color! My bedroom isn’t purple but my office is. 🙂 Nice meeting you here, Danielle!
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I’m more of a blue/gray gal but I know a lot of wonderful ladies who adore purple! It’s just a bit perky for me… I need all the help I can get in the chill department 😀
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I love to chill with a tall glass of sweet tea and a good book.
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Why, of course, Cheryl! 🙂
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That sounds like an excellent plan, Cheryl!
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Thanks so much for inviting me to chill in your blog space today, Beth Erin!
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My pleasure! I needed some chill so this is perfect! 🙂
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Reading or walking is how I chill.
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When I chill, I love to have on comfy clothes, little music in the background and grab a good book. If weather is extremely nice, I love to chill with my Sweetheart of 33 years by going on a trike ride. Nothing more relaxing than wind blowing in your hair, headed down some road you’ve never been on and enjoying all the sights and sounds of nature. 🙂
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I love to read to chill
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jammies are good, purple is, well, divine!!!
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Watching the ID channel and drinking my sweet tea
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Well, here in northern Utah we’ve had plenty of chill this year. I’m ready a little warmth. I love wearing comfy clothes while I read a book. When it’s nice outside, I like to sit on my porch swing and look at the scenery and/or read.
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I bet the Utah scenery is amazing, Winnie!
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Great interview. And I obviously came dressed for it–in my jammies! ????
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Hi, Katie! Perfect dress code!
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A cup of coffee and a good book (of course!).
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Relaxing in comfy clothes in a cozy chair with a cup of coffee, reading a good book or watching a movie.
Thanks for the opportunity of this giveaway!!!
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I chill by reading a good book, preferably with a cup of coffee or a latte. Or I work on a jigsaw puzzle. Definitely need to be in comfy clothes.
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I chill reading, watching a movie, playing with the dog, or cross stitching.
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Lately, hubby has been working a lot of overtime (for which we are thankful) and I like to stay up until he gets off work. So I find myself with a lot of free time in the evenings after the boys go down.
I use that time to straighten up a bit, listen to some worship music or an audio book, and get my cross stitch on. I find it very relaxing after a long day with my two boys!
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By reading with my cuppa Chai Green Tea, and one or more of my fur babies cuddled up with me.
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A cup of coffee & reading. 🙂
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I chill with a book in the recliner or, if it is nice out, in the backyard ????????
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Either reading a book or watching Frasier reruns is how I relax!
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I chill by reading and or fishing. Sometimes both at the same time.
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With a book by the pool!
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I love to chill on my front porch in my wicker rocker with a good book, a glass of iced tea, watching and listening to the birds, and looking at the beauty of my flower garden. Thank you for the review and the chance. Blessings.
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Listening to music, baking or playing games on my phone.
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I love to chill on the back patio. I love to work on my family history on my computer, and just be outside.
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A nice hot shower at the end of the day, then I know all my work is done…and start reading!
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In comfy clothes with a good book and some chocolate. 🙂
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We have so much in common, Karen! We both have awesome names, of course, and purple is also my favorite color! I love to chill in my pajamas as well. My favorite drink is hot cocoa, though. My mom just bought me a big, gorgeous mug that says “My kitchen is made for dancing.” I adore it!
I also wanted to let you know that a lot of us Christians believe that there are lots of good spirits here on earth. Angels still have a very real purpose, a work to do. This talk by one of the apostles of my church talks about the ministry of angels. It’s beautiful. I’m not sure what’s so controversial about angels on earth, but I wanted to let you know that some of us see the beauty and possibility in your book.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng
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