Rain Dance by Joy DeKok

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

What happens when a Christian woman facing a childless future and a woman seeking an abortion are waiting to see the same doctor?

What if, after that “chance” encounter, they are unable to forget each other?

What if, in spite of their drastic differences, they find themselves drawn together by their surprising similarities?

What if they somehow find the courage to become friends?

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

When did you get started as a writer?

I started drawing letters before I could read them dreaming of the day I'd write my own words on pages.

What is your favorite genre to write? Or favorite age group to write for?

I'm a bit of rule breaker I guess. I write fiction, non-fiction, and for kids. My favorite group is whoever might be reading the current project.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you dream of being?

I wanted to be three things: a wife, mommy, and writer. Two out of three isn't bad. We can't have children, but I am married to a wonderful man and am a published author. I'm deeply grateful to God.

Where do you get your inspiration/story ideas?

Usually, while cleaning the house. Sometimes it's a phrase I hear or even say myself and it sticks in my heart. At times, it is even a scent or a song - a memory comes flooding in and there's potential in it.

Who is your biggest cheerleader(s)?

My husband Jon is my biggest fan and he balances that with godly wisdom - he grounds me. Then there are my readers who write and ask for more.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I'm all over on this subject - I read over 100 fiction books per year and about half as many non-fiction. I like Christian authors and some in the general market. For a bit of contrast - in the Christian fiction market I read Francine Rivers and Ted DeKker. In the general market I run the gauntlet from Ann B. Rice to Dean Koontz.

In the last year I've joined Joan Shoup and am a co-owner of Sheaf House Publishers. I am a huge fan of all our authors. Check them all out at www.sheafhouse.com We have an exciting year ahead of us. I do have a new favorite non-fiction author and I have the privilege of working with him at Sheaf House's new non-fiction imprint - Journey Press. Joe Bonsall (a member of the Oak Ridge Boys and bestselling author of G. I. Joe & Lillie) recently signed with us for his newest project: Perspectives.

When can we expect your next book?

I'm working on the sequel to Rain Dance (Sun Dance) and my devotional Under His Wings re-releases in March 2010. I've nearly completed Your Life A Legacy (Journaling Beyond the Surface) and it will release as well in 2010 via self publishing.

Last, but not least----Who is JESUS to you?

He is my all in all. I was 15 years old and seeking truth. I asked God to send me someone who would tell me the truth about Jesus and two days later a man with answers to my questions knocked on our door. A few weeks later, I accepted Christ and although I'm 52 years old, I am still in love with the Savior of my soul. I want to know Him better, love Him more, and serve Him well. i love the fact He will always be a mystery to me - I can spend eternity learning about Him from Him.

Joy can be found online at www.JoyDeKok.com.

MY REVIEW

Rain Dance is an amazingly vivid and alive book about abortion, infertility, loss and friendship. A book has never gotten me quite like Rain Dance did. I was reading a very vivid part toward the beginning of the book and I actually got very light-headed and nauseous. I had to stop reading for this reason, but my mind continued to play out the way things could go.

This is the first book of Joy's that I've had to privilege to read and I will be a faithful reader from here on out. She has a wonderful gift of making her story as though you are the character and the situations play out so alive.

I especially liked the way she wrote and shared to intimacy of the marriage without explicit detail and raw images. She opens up the heart and minds of her characters and you feel as though you've been best friends with them all along.

Rain Dance is a book that cant be put down. As God leads and Jonica follows, you never really known how things are going to play out. Just as in the real life of Christians following God today; the journey is often hard and the way is unknown, but God's still small voice will lead us and direct us and even pull us back on course when we get full of ourselves.

Rain Dance is full of God's hand at work and will inspire you. Whether you are living with a hurt of your own or whether you are seeking out God to fill the void in your life, you'll be drawn through this story and Joy's amazing writing skills to the God of healing, restoration and love.

Rain Dance has reminded me:

"I can preach a better sermon with my life, than with my lips."

-Goldsmith

Thank you Joy for doing an wonderfully fantastic job on such a hard hush-hush topic. I give it 5 stars, a stand ovation and two thumbs up!