About the Book

Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)

Author: Pam Green

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: October 15, 2024

When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.

Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.

Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.

Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.

More from Pam

“Sully Parkway? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of the Church on the Parkway either. This area is changing so fast nobody can keep up!”

Life in the Virginia suburbs outside Washington, DC reflects the fast pace of our nation’s capital, and I know I’ve fooled some residents by sticking Sully Parkway and its non-denominational megachurch somewhere—and everywhere—in the area.

Welcome to my world! Sully Parkway is anywhere I want it to be!

You’ll have no difficulty recognizing the Church on the Parkway, or COP. Maybe it’s your church, with all its shortcomings, victories, quirky characters, inspiring leaders—and comfort dogs?!

Yes, COP takes its outreach responsibilities seriously, and they started a comfort dog ministry!

What Christian hasn’t struggled in situations where words fail to soothe a hurting soul? Real life comfort dogs, such as the 100-plus golden retrievers deployed by the Lutheran Church Charities, are ambassadors of Christ’s love in a range of challenging situations, from the minor anxiety of learning to read aloud to the unthinkable tragedy of a school shooting, and everything in between.

I fell in love with these sweet creatures of God who know intuitively how to reach out to hurting humans. Find out how Hope, COP’s golden retriever puppy, grows into her mission.

You’ll discover that some of the hope she brings is completely unexpected!

Interview with Pam

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? When did you write your first book and how old were you?

Growing up, I was a genuine bookworm; my mother was a musician and taught piano. I loved going to lessons with her, where I would read Maud Hart Lovelace, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Louisa May Alcott while absorbing a little music theory on the side. When Mother dragged me to outdoor concerts in Washington, DC, near our Virginia home, I read until it got too dark to see, and then I begged to go home early.

Mother often made it up to me later by taking me on jaunts to visit obscure historical sites in the area. I loved history–in fourth grade I read through our Virginia history book in one weekend–and justified these trips as “material” for my “book.” One Sunday, when I was about twelve, we visited Pohick Church, one of the churches George Washington attended. The greeter asked if we wanted to sit in George Washington’s pew. Of course, we said yes! The pews were traditional colonial boxes rather than rows–like egg cartons, enabling you to see your neighbors. We thought everyone saw us struggling to follow along in the prayer book and hymnal. I confess we giggled more than we prayed, but we were on our knees, so the congregation probably saw less than we thought. After the service, we visited the graveyard to collect name ideas for my “book.”

Maybe research proved to be more complicated than I expected–it was well before the internet, of course. I never wrote that historical tale. My first book was a handwritten, two-volume story called “Everyday Escapades,” based on adventures with my first crush, written shortly after I abandoned my historical novel. I threw it out recently–no need for it to surface when I become famous!

What are your favorite books to read?

I admit I read to escape. I love to read cozy mysteries featuring animals and food, and I also love Christian romantic suspense. I wish I could write in these genres, but I’m not good at solving mysteries, and I don’t think I could kill anyone in writing–even “cozily.” Thanks to The Chosen, I’ve also been reading more biblical fiction.

How do you create your main characters? Do you base your characters on real people?

In my first series, Sully Parkway, several characters are inspired by aspects of real people’s personalities and actions. They are still fictional. Ages, names, and settings are changed to protect the innocent. I love doing this because I can create characters who are slightly larger than life and accelerate their development for a story that’s on the shorter side.

What does your family think of your writing? What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

As a child, my mother was my first fan and continued to encourage me as I grew up. I started writing in earnest when my husband was ill and we both retired from teaching  He bragged about me to folks in the hospital. After his death, I grabbed the discipline of writing as a lifeline, made writer friends, and established an indie publishing brand, Phoebe Books. I’m so grateful for the courage God gave me to do these challenging things. Although my family seems proud of my writing, most aren’t avid Christian fiction readers. I’ve learned that most people don’t read a lot! In my circles, Christians seem to gravitate toward non-fiction. We need spiritual nourishment, but that doesn’t preclude reading good fiction. In my stories, I strive to entertain while showing that “anybody can grow–in grace.”

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

I’m writing the second book in the Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs series, Welcome Hope. I “hope” it will be published this fall.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 15

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 16

Vicky Sluiter, May 17

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 18

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 19

Stories By Gina, May 20 (Author Interview)

Roads to Everywhere, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 22

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Holly’s Book Corner, May 26

Texas Book-aholic, May 27

Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, May 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pam is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, and a surprise!!

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/00adcf54223