Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Dreams That Won't Let Go Blog Tour


Stacy Hawkins Adams is a nationally-published, award-winning author and speaker. Her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with social themes and spiritual quests that take readers on journeys into their own souls.


She holds a degree in journalism and served as a newspaper reporter for more than a decade before turning her full attention to penning books, speaking professionally and writing freelance articles.

Stacy lives in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two young children. Visit Stacy online at stacyhawkinsadams.com.

Tell us about Dreams That Won’t Let Go.

This novel is the third book in my Jubilant Soul series, but it’s also written as a stand-alone title, so readers who begin here won’t be lost. Dreams That Won’t Let Go in many senses in a modern day version of the Prodigal Son story – a long-lost sibling returns and the one who has been there all along is resentful.

But this story is really about so much more. It’s about the hopes and dreams that tug at each characters heart, as well as the fears and pain that haunt them. Until everyone in this family acknowledges mistakes they’ve made in the past, and secrets that they’ve wrongly kept, no one in the family will heal.

We get to see whether Indigo, her brother Reuben, her sister Yasmin and other family members are up to the challenge.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

I wanted to write a novel about a close-knit southern family who on the surface, was picture perfect and deeply religious; but in reality, struggled to unconditionally love and support each other like many other families. I wanted to focus on characters who were faithful yet vulnerable, and willing to grow into stronger people.

Who are your main character(s)?

My main characters in this novel are Indigo Burns and her brother, Reuben Burns. Indigo is preparing to marry the man of her dreams and start an exciting life, but her joy is hampered because she’s going it alone. The support she had hoped to receive from her parents seems to have shifted to the brother who left ten years earlier and now has returned to a hero’s welcome. But Reuben is fighting demons, and until he acknowledges them, his return home won’t be a truly happy one.

Did you have a favorite character(s)? Who and why?

My favorite character in Dreams That Won’t Let Go, and in the entire series is Aunt Melba. She’s no-nonsense yet loving, and everyone in the family (and in the community) seeks out her wisdom and support when they’re dealing with big issues.

Did you have to do quite a bit of research for this novel?

Yes. I actually research careers, professions and anything else that shapes who the characters are and where they live. For example, although Jubilant is a fictional Texas town, Reuben moves there from Seattle; so I thoroughly researched what his life was like before making the transition.

What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading Dreams That Won’t Let Go?

I hope readers will understand the value of being “real” – being authentic – with themselves and others, and also the importance of loving others enough to let them choose their own paths. I also want readers to know that sometimes we do have to let go of our dreams and hand them over to God, but in doing so, we can trust that they won’t die.

Thanks so much for hosting me today, LaShaunda!


About the Book

Indigo Burns is excited. Her wedding preparations to the man of her dreams are underway, her photography career is a success, and her family seems to be doing better than ever—all except her brother Reuben, who nobody has seen in years. But that’s about to change.

When Reuben decides to move back home to Jubilant, Texas, he hopes to find healing with his sisters. But Indigo isn’t so sure their relationship can be mended. And when younger sister Yasmin makes a life-altering choice, it seems like only a miracle can put the Burns family back together.

Will these siblings – and the rest of their family - ever be able to love unconditionally and release each other to live their dreams?

Dreams That Won’t Let Go GIVEAWAY!

WIN a set of signed books from the Jubilant Soul Series AND a free one-hour session with Helena Nyman, an executive coach.

Answer the following question in the comment section to be eligible for the giveaway.

What dreams are simmering in your heart and waiting to be birthed?

Visit the full blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/DreamsThatWontLetGo



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6 comments:

LaShaunda said...

Stacy,

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

I must say I've enjoyed this series and hate to see it end.

I'm reading this book this week. Getting to know Reuben.

I like that the characters remind me of real people with real problems. I think I've told all my book reading friends about this wonderful series.

Wishing you many blessings and looking forward to what's next with your writing.

A fan for life,

LaShaunda

CSF said...

My dream is to become a writer. Since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to be an author. That passion and gift of writing was truly given to me by God. I've always written short stories since elementary school via the teacher's CliffHangers series. I was always able to use my imagination and create characters, scenarios, and themes. Right now, after a long time of not writing, I decided that I needed to get back to it--full force with God leading me through it all.

I have read Dreams That Won't Let Go. After reading it, it opened my eyes to see the different routes people take to acheive their goals. It put in perspective for me my lack of action (faith without works, if you will) in reaching and obtaining this dream. It was time for me to stop slacking and talking, and to start positively working! :)

My FAVORITE FAVORITE book was Worth A Thousand Words. Oh!!! It spoke my story to a T! Indie is my girl; she's me!! She was engaged with someone she deeply cared about but did not love and almost married him. So was I. She loved photography and studied it in college, only to temporarily end up working at the salon. I studied Journalism and ended up working for the government. And it was so exciting to read about a character who went through similar if the not the same situations I went through around the same age. I'm getting goose bumps as I write this and whenever I speak about it.

It was through this book that I made the decision to follow my dreams no matter what. To prepare for any opportunity that God places in my path. Just like Indie did. After reading the book in one sitting (while at work when I should have been working, lol) I prayed to God with tears in my eyes to do His will, to carry out this gift of writing, and to make this passion and dream a reality.

Tracey

Stacy Hawkins Adams said...

Wow, Tracey. What a powerful testimony. Thanks so much for sharing. It is really humbling to know that my novel (and the story God gave me to write) had such an impact.

You know what that means, right? When you begin to tell the stories you're holding onto, you're also going to make a difference in someone's life. Don't let the idea of writing a "whole" book intimidate you; just start one page, then one chapter, at a time. It doesn't have to be perfect; but you'll at least have something you can go back and edit.
Thanks for sharing your dream!

LaShaunda, thanks again for hosting me! You are such a great supporter of authors, and I really appreciate you spreading the word about the series.

A nonfiction is next on my radar, but I'm in the process of crafting more fiction, too!

Warm Regards,

Stacy

LaShaunda said...

Tracey,

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Writing has been my dream since I was sixteen and thought I'd be the Black Jackie Collins.

I let FEAR sit me out for many years because I was afraid of letting others read my stories.

Once I realized that this magazine couldn't take the place of the writing inside of me, I stepped out on faith.

Pick up your pen or sit at your computer and write. The words will flow and before you know it you'll have a book.

Please keep us posted, I would love to intoduce your book to our readers.

Happy writing
LaShaunda

Tyora Moody said...

Thank you, LaShaunda, for introducing SORMAG Readers to the latest book in the Jubilant Soul series. It has been a beautiful series indeed. Stacy will have many more fans from reading these novels.

Stacy Hawkins Adams said...

Ty,
Thanks so much for your kind words about the series. That means a lot.
Thanks also for being an awesome blog tour planner!

All the best, LaShaunda, and Happy Anniversary to SORMAG! (I won my first award as a published author through the annual SORMAG "Best" contest. I'll always treasure that. :)

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