About the Book

Book: Seashells Tell No Tales

Author: Amanda Tru

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 27, 2024

A tropical island tale of danger, secrets, love, and seashells that won’t reveal any of it.

Faith Marlowe made a promise to her dying brother. Unfortunately that promise involves helping an injured and embittered Army Ranger vet, Gideon Sundquist (Sunny).

Sunny doesn’t want help. He lost both his legs in a black ops mission he can’t breathe a word about. Now he’s exiled on an island in the middle of the South Pacific, hiding from the world.

Both Faith and Sunny have secrets to keep. If Sunny finds out who Faith is, Faith will lose her only chance to keep her promise. If Faith finds out the truth of Sunny’s mission, it will put both of their lives at risk.

On a beautiful, remote island in the Pacific, Faith will try to teach Sunny to live again. But if the tales of their secrets are told, neither will see the sun rise in the Suamalie Islands again.

Beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Amanda Tru is a best-selling author of over thirty Christian fiction books. She writes page-turning fiction to inspire real-life stories. In her own real story, she sheds her super-hero writing cape to be mommy to four kids in a small Idaho town.

More from Amanda

I believe that the best fiction contains a seed of truth. After all, sometimes life breathes emotions that can never be faked and tells stories no imagination can paint. Seashells Tell No Tales is a fantastic story of romance, heartache, family, and friendship with a splash of humor and suspense. In some ways, it is a fresh take on the classic Beauty and the Beast motif. But what may be most surprising is that the original idea for the plot is based on a true story.

My father-in-law was in the army when he was a young man. He never served in war combat, but his memories still reveal that it was a life-changing experience for him. One day, he told us a story about another soldier he befriended in basic training. Though his military story didn’t carry the thill and danger of some military tales, its impact on him was profound, so much so that over fifty years later, his voice shook with tears as he told it.

It was a tale of a paradigm shift when he realized that someone who was different did not intend to be different, but very much wished to not be weighed down with the lot life had assigned him. The other young man did not want to be as he was. My father-in-law’s response to his fellow soldier spoke of understanding, friendship, and a life-altering perspective that still resonates in his actions today.

And it’s a message that should inspire us all.

As often happens, when I hear a story that touches me, I mentally file it away. It bubbles up in my memory ever so often and eventually, an idea may form around it. The foundation Seashells Tell No Tales is the true-life encounter my father-in-law had in basic training. Sunny’s flashback scene at the beginning of the book is as identical as I could make it to what my father-in-law described. I used my imagination to fill in the details of the circumstances surrounding the event, but the conversation, the emotions, and the actions are all real.

In turn, that event forms the basis of a friendship that defines the rest of the book. Also real to life, friendships are not fairy-tales; they are messy. In some ways, Sunny’s life may have been better had he never taken the time to offer friendship to an outcast, but in every way that matters, Sunny—like all of us—is a better human for experiencing the trials of life we’d never choose for ourselves.

Yes, Seashells Tell No Tales is very much a fiction story. But I believe the truth in it adds a profound dimension. As you read it, feel free to laugh at the humor, white-knuckle your way through the suspense, feel your heart flutter with the romance, be touched by the themes of family and friendship—but I also want you to shut the last page of the book inspired.

May we all offer friendship to those on the sidelines of life. And may we recognize our own faces in theirs. Through our love for others, may we realize that we truly are exactly who we are meant to be.

Interview with Amanda

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey?

Writing and publishing is a lot of work. I love the writing part. Some of the other work involved in publishing is not my favorite. As I think back to all the blood, sweat, and tears, I know that my favorite part is the end result. It still feels surreal to think that people around the world read and enjoy my writing. It’s even more surreal to think that those people find my writing valuable. I love when God lets me see a glimpse of how He uses my work in the lives of others.

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

Seashells Tell No Tales is a work of fiction. However, as with most of my books, there are portions of the story that are based on real-life events. Still other parts are borrowed from something in the real world.

For instance, the book includes a pretty spectacular cliff-jumping scene that was borrowed from a trip to the dentist’s office! My dental hygienist is a very adventurous guy.  On the wall of the office, a digital picture frame features a slideshow of pictures from his adventures. One of the pictures was of him cliff-jumping. We starting talking about it, and the idea suddenly struck me that I should include a cliff-jumping scene in my book. I quizzed my hygienist about the details and technique involved in cliff jumping and filed it all away in my head. However, I didn’t quite know how I was going to pull it off. My hero was a double amputee. How was I going to have a man with no legs jump off a cliff?

I’m happy to confirm that there is a cliff-jumping scene in Seashells Tell No Tales. It’s touching, heart-pounding, and even a little humorous. Yes, it does feature my hero, Gideon Sundquist, a double amputee.

And now you know that the inspiration for that scene came from the dentist’s office!

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart?

The character named Hillbilly holds a special place in my heart. In many ways, he is a catalyst for the entire plot. He’s complicated. Sometimes he’s the hero; sometimes he’s the villain.

I think all of us are a bit like Hillbilly. We have faults. Good people mess up sometimes. We make mistakes, and those mistakes have consequences.

Hillbilly is a three-dimensional character. While it would be easy to blame him and be angry at his inadequacies, instead, part of the message of the story is compassion and empathy for others who are different and who are less than who they should be—who we expect them to be. At some point it our lives, we are sure to look in the mirror and find Hillbilly looking back at each of us.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

The absolute best way to find out more about me is to become one of my newsletter subscribers. I consider newsletter subscribers to be my reader friends. My newsletters aren’t the usual. They are real and honest, inspiring others with lessons from my own life. You also get a free short story for signing up!

https://amandatru.com/trustoriesnewsletter

Facebook is also a good place to connect with me. You can find my author page at this link.

https://www.facebook.com/amandatru.author

If you’d like to see a list of my books, please check out my Amazon author page.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0075FFM92

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I have a tall TBW (To-Be-Written) pile! I have one more book to write in the Suamalie Islands series. If you’ve followed my Suamalie Islands books, you’re familiar with the character of Dundee. My final book in the series is all about Dundee, and I’m so excited to tell her story! I also have a project in the works that involves a series of short stories. I’m hoping to have it finished to debut next year. Another big project for this year is adding book 5 to my Christmas Card series. It’s one of my most beloved series and has had such an impact on so many lives. Part of what makes the stories so beautiful is that they are all inspired by true-life events, usually from my own life. I can’t wait to tell this Christmas Card story that lives in my head. I have an endless stack of ideas. So much to write, so little time!

Blog Stops

She Lives To Read, March 16

Devoted To Hope, March 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 19

Texas Book-aholic, March 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 21

Sylvan Reads, March 22

Karen Baney Reviews, March 23

Inspired by fiction, March 23

Life, Love, Writing, March 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 25

Blogging With Carol, March 26

For Him and My Family, March 27

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 28 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, March 28

Holly’s Book Corner, March 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amanda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a7ac/seashells-tell-no-tales-celebration-tour-giveaway