I first learned of Nikki Arana shortly after her book, The Winds of Sonoma, was released back around 2005 or 2006. I was blown away by her romantic story of a New York lawyer who, faced with a career-ending crisis, returns home to the California wine country to start over and falls in love with a Mexican stable hand. She goes from fighting in boardrooms to fighting her parents' prejudices while finding a way to save the family estate. This was a time when I wanted the next book right away, and luckily, it too was available, In The Shade of the Jacaranda. The final book in the series and the best, The Fragrance of Roses, was published later that year.
With that, I'll turn it over to Nikki:
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It is so good to be here. Thanks so much for a chance to
tell your readers a little about myself and my writing. I like all kinds of
books. Even though I write women’s fiction and suspense, I’m partial to
non-fiction for enjoyment reading. I love all of Watchman Nee’s books and am a
big fan of Oswald Chambers.
I write what is called fiction with a purpose or
transformational fiction. (I will soon have a FB page for that. If you like to
read or write those kinds of books, send me an email and I’ll let you know when
it is up. Just put FWP in the subject line.) All of my books deal with social,
political, and spiritual issues that Christians face today.
Patricia came to
know me through my first series. Book 1, The Winds of Sonoma, touched on illegal
immigration. The hero is a Mexican laborer. It is a love story based on my own
experience of meeting my husband!
In Book 2, In the Shade of the Jacaranda, the
hero and heroine in Book 1 are married, and this story deals with unplanned pregnancies
and abortion.
Book 3, The Fragrance of Roses, deals with leukemia and the
need to have more minorities donating to bone marrow registries. I always try
to have at least one character who would be judged “less than” by the world. A
one-legged beggar, a child with Down syndrome, or a poor, illiterate stableman
becomes the catalyst of the story, impacting the other characters in the book in
positive, life-changing ways. I do this as a way of breaking stereotypes.
I believe that God has a plan for
every life no matter what the circumstances. Sometimes it is hard to see that
plan when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. That’s why I say that
in my books, quite often, things are not what they seem. I have found God’s ways
to be mysterious and beautiful. I try to show through my characters that if we
will approach the challenges that come to us with an eye to discern His divine
hand at work, and a willingness to be a vessel of His love, we will overcome.
My next novel, The Next Target,
will be releasing June 1. It is about the need for Christians to reach out to
the Muslims who live and work among us, model the love of Christ to them, and
then with the leading of the Holy Spirit, give them what Islam can never give. It is also about the price Muslims pay to know Christ. It, like The Winds of Sonoma,
is inspired by a true story.
My own.
Based on my experiences with Muslims who
convert to Christianity and are under the threat of death. I work with them through
my ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted.
You can learn more about me and my
books by visiting my website, or by following my new blog, Words for theJourney. If you would like to help raise awareness about persecuted Christians here in
America, you can get the code to put a banner about The Next Target on your
website, FB or any place you think is appropriate from the Media Kit on my
website.
Again, thank you so much for
having me.
Nikki Arana is an award-winning author of women’s fiction, essays, poetry, and magazine articles whose work has been published in the United States and Canada . She has won several national awards, including the American Christian Fiction Book of the Year for Women's Fiction - twice, and the Beacon Award. Her book, The Winds of Sonoma was named One of the Top 20 Books of the Year by Christianbook.com. Nikki is also the recipient of the Excellence in Media Silver Angel Award.. She is an experienced speaker and has presented numerous, highly successful workshops on the craft of writing. Nikki also serves persecuted Christians who are under the threat of death through her ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted. You can visit her website here: http://www.nikkiarana.com
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And....
You can also WIN a KINDLE to read her
books by visiting her FB author page, May 14 through June 4, clicking on the "Win A Kindle" button on the far right. ("And," Nikki says, "maybe LIKE it while you're there!")
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.
2 comments:
Thanks for having me. I would love to stay in touch with you. Visit me on my blog at www.nikkiarana.com/blog
Absolutely, Nikki. I don't always get a lot of comments, but I know folks read because they'll mention it after the fact.
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