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.

Interview with Joy

How long does it take you to write a book?

My first novel, The Healing, was written extra-ordinarily quickly. In a matter of 8 weeks or so. It was during the pandemic and I was stuck at home. The story had been mulling around in my mind for a while, and now I had the time and space to write it. It just poured out of me – I believe that was God’s grace. The subsequent books haven’t been as easy to write. I guess each one has taken between 4 and 6 months to write. That is partly because I am more conscious of the mistakes I made the first time around and want to give the editors less work to do!

What are your favorite books to read?

No surprises here but my favorite genre has always been historical fiction! Perhaps that is why, after years of working in the medical field, I have gone back to my first love  – history. I love the sense of escapism that going to another time and place gives you.  History has always fascinated me – particularly how people lived in days past. Visiting historic ruins, castles, country houses, and military sites were part of my childhood, as my father also loved history. I will always gravitate to the historical fiction shelves in a library or bookshop. Any period of history – but particularly medieval!

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I wrote my first book in 2020 at the ripe old age of 53. I have always wondered if there was a book in me, but actually writing it and then unexpectedly having the book accepted for publication, came as a huge surprise! I hadn’t written stories since I left school, and  now I am a fiction author with four books written!

What does your family think of your writing?

My family are great! My husband calls himself a writer widower, as I often get so engrossed that I forget he is around, or waiting to eat dinner! When I am mid- book I often get so lost in my fictitious medieval world that I miss conversation going on around me. My family call it ‘book dreaming’ as apposed to ‘daydreaming’. I think everyone was as surprised as me when a publisher took on my books, but they have been really supportive and encouraging. And bought and given away lots of my books too!

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

I have my own website at www.joymargetts.com. There is information about me and my writing journey there, and lots more background information to my books.  

I have many ideas in my head for more stories, but I am waiting on God to see if He wants me to write them.

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