For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12 (NKJ)
Fourteen years ago my first inspirational novel, Scent of Lilacs, was published and readers were taking their first trips to my little town of Hollyhill that is a lot like my town of Lawrenceburg was fifty years ago. It was an exciting time for me with the feeling the sky was the limit. Or shoot, maybe way higher than that, all the way to Jupiter. If you’ve been to Hollyhill and eavesdropped on Jocie and Wes talking, you’ll know why I’m off to Jupiter. 🙂
At the same time I was launching my new writing career after several years of rejections following the first thirteen books I published in the general market, my husband was singing Southern Gospel with the Patriot Quartet. (He still does. You can check them out on their Patriot Qt Facebook page.) For a while the quartet took their songs on the road in a big old purple bus. They traveled around to churches in our local area but they also went on longer trips to other states to present their concerts.
With the bus, the guys and family members like me who went along for the ride shared long hours on the road between concerts. We griped about the bumps in the road, argued over which restaurants were best, couldn’t always agree on restroom stops, and best of all shared a lot of stories. At that time, Jerry Shepherd was the tenor singer in the Patriot Quartet, and did he ever have stories to tell. Several years before he and Darrell started singing together, I’d heard Jerry give his testimony. I’d never forgotten how that testimony had affected me by making me realize that sometimes people have pasts we would never guess.
Jerry and his mother had a difficult relationship. Jerry felt he could never please her and didn’t think she loved him. He got involved with alcohol and drugs as a teen and was often suicidal. After high school he joined the army. This was while the Vietnam War was going on and when he didn’t want to go to college, he knew he would be drafted. He couldn’t handle the program the Army put him into and after another suicide attempt he went AWOL. One thing led to another and at the age of nineteen, he ended up in a Georgia penitentiary after killing a man. That could have been the end for Jerry, but while he had often given up on himself, the Lord had not. Nor had Jerry’s parents. While they were shocked and saddened by what Jerry had done, they didn’t stop loving him and wanting to help him. And they prayed. They never quit praying for Jerry and telling him to pray too.
While we were traveling around to those Gospel concerts, Jerry would share snippets of his story. It seemed impossible to think about the Jerry I knew who loved the Lord and was ready to serve Him however he could was that same Jerry who was sentenced to years in prison for murder. His amazing testimony of how God rescued him from this terrible mess he’d made of his life captured my imagination. I wanted to write his story. I little knew how truly amazing his story was when I first asked him if I could try to write his book. It turned out that he’d always wanted to write his story, but when he tried, he could never get past the opening pages. But now the Lord had put Jerry and me on the same bus and together we found a way to share his story with readers.
Come back Sunday and I’ll tell you more about how I was able to write Jerry’s story. I wasn’t sure I could since I like to make up the stories I write. But this time I was writing truth.
When we first published Angels at the Crossroads, we went with one of the self-publishing companies. The book was expensive and the cover didn’t fit the story. Several years later, I had the cover redesigned and reissued the book with the same company. I still thought it was too expensive for readers. I thought it was too expensive for me to even buy any copies myself. So now I have once more published a slightly edited copy of the story. I just deleted some of those unnecessary words I’d used to write the story and I gave Jerry credit on the cover. After all, it is his story. The price on Amazon is more reasonable at $13.99 for the print copy and $3.99 for the e-book.
A Book Giveaway
To celebrate having copies of the book back on my shelves after years of not having any copies, I’m giving away two copies. All you have to do to be in the drawing for the book is leave a comment on this post. I’ll post about writing the book again on Sunday. Your comment on any posts before the deadline to enter will get you another entry. Deadline to enter is midnight EST February 1, 2019. You have to be eighteen or older to enter. I’ll pick the two winners by random drawing from whatever entries I receive. Contest for a print copy is open to United States and Canada. If an international reader wins, I can send them an e-book.
Does Angels at the Crossroads sound like a book you’d like to read? Do you like the cover and/or the title?
Comments 74
Hazel was my aunt but I never really knew Jerry. I’m one of those cousins he said he had to be introduced to at Aunt Hazel’s funeral. My parents had told me he was in prison, but I was only 7 at the time so they didn’t tell me why. I had heard he sang with a Christian group but didn’t know anything more about him. Out of curiosity a couple of months ago I looked on the internet to see what might have happened to him. I was excited to find your book! It was surreal to read it knowing Aunt Hazel and Uncle Dewey and having been in their house and dairy and on their farm. Since I am a follower of Jesus, I was very happy to hear about the ways God has worked in his life. Thank you for writing his story!
Author
Hi, Lisa. Fun to hear from you. I never met Hazel, but I did get to know her in many ways from hearing Jerry talk about his story and then to read the letters he wrote to her. I think about her saving all those letters and how much she truly loved him even though she didn’t always show it the way Jerry needed her to. I did get to spend time with Dewey before he died while Jerry and Darrell were both part of the Patriot Quartet. He was a wonderful man and again, with so much love for Jerry. Jerry is on Facebook and sometimes puts songs on there for others to hear. I’m sure he would be glad to hear from you. So you can find him there if you are on FB.
Thank you for reading our book and for getting in touch.
I bought “angels at the crossroads” when i met your husband. It was one my faves but i love all the books. I used to read it on the road in the semi. I left it in the semi when my ex fiance left me. I really wish i had the book back. I’m also friends with you on facebook.
This afternoon, Ann, while volunteering at our little library in Sun City, Texas, I met a lady who likes to read books by Christian authors. She also likes historical fiction. (All of the books in this one-room library are donated by patrons who have downsized or by local authors.) I asked her if she had read any of your books. She had not. I checked to see if we had any on the shelf. We did. I was able to share Angel Sister with her. (That was the first book of yours that I read, thanks to my sister!) I hope she enjoys your stories as much as I do!
Author
How nice of you to suggest one of my stories to the lady at your library, Becky. I do love libraries. Private message me and I’ll send you a box of books. I have so many books of other Christian writers I’ve gathered over the years. Some gently read. Others not read at all. I can’t read as much as I’d like. Let me know a couple of mine you’d like too if you’re interested.
Well I have one of the first copies of Angels At The Crossroads, read it and enjoyed it immensely. However I cannot find it yet I wanted someone to read it. I am so thankful it is once again available as if I don’t win one I will surely buy another to give to this person as I think it will be a Blessing to them.
Author
Maybe you shared the book with someone who forgot to return it to you, Juanita. That happens. I do appreciate you reading the book and now wanting to share it with someone.
Ann, Billy Montgomery here. I sing with The Master’s Servants Quartet. I knew a slight bit of Jerry’s story but not very much. I’d love one if the books. If I don’t win one I’ll try getting one from amazon. God bless you and the guys as you travel spreading His word in song.
Author
Thanks so much for stopping by, Billy. It’s good to hear from a fellow singer. Well, I’m not the singer, but I have followed around a lot of quartets in my time. That Southern Gospel music can uplift and encourage and just plain make you feel good. I always had my favorite songs and I’m sure your families do too when they go to listen to your quartet sing.
I don’t know what you know about Jerry’s story, but I promise it is an amazing story that will let you see the power of prayer and the mercy of God’s redeeming love and grace.
Wishing you good concerts and happy songs.
I would love to read the book. The cover seems perfect for the title, and I like both.
Author
So glad you think the cover and title work on Jerry’s story, Laura. I do hope when you get a chance to read it, you will think the story is an inspiring and powerful testimony.
Sounds like a very special book!!!
Author
I’m glad you think so, Olivia. Hope when you get a chance to read the story, you’ll find out you were right.
I have read this story. A very good book, made even better because it’s true. I borrowed it from someone. Now I would love to win it to put on my Ann Gabhart shelf with the rest of your books. Now my books . Love them all.
Author
I’m smiling after reading you have an Ann Gabhart shelf. That’s neat, and definitely it would be nice for you to have Jerry’s book on that shelf too. Thanks for reading it already and then for wanting a copy to keep. I do so appreciate you reading my books, Jean.
Jerry was my youth pastor when I was in high school! I thank God for His influence in Jerry’s life & for the way Jerry serves our great Lord & Savior!!! I love this book & have loaned it out many times…so many that I can’t remember who has it! Even if I don’t win, I’ll be purchasing another copy to share!!!
Author
So nice of you to stop by, Jennifer. It’s fun to hear from somebody who knows Jerry and how he loves the Lord and kids. I’m glad you liked the book enough to share it. Perhaps whomever you last shared it with also shared it with someone who will be touched by Jerry’s story. I appreciate you wanting to keep a copy on your bookshelf.
I would love to read this book! I too had a rough childhood, and am still trying to deal with it. God is so merciful to us.
Author
I’m sorry you had a hard childhood, Judy. We always want every child to have the ideal family and good experiences at school and to be happy. But of course, that is a dream that doesn’t happen for all kids. Things do often go wrong for people and innocent people can be hurt. But the good news is that God loves all of us as if there is only one of us. That was how He loved Jerry even while Jerry was running down all the wrong roads. I hope you are on good roads now where you feel loved.
I went to school with Jerry and had lost track of him like so many other class mates…when I heard about his story a few years back I ordered it… it was such a blessing to read what the Lord did for Jerry, I contacted him on facebook and now we are FB friends …I told him how much his testimony had blessed me..since my husband does prison ministry I think it would be a good book to put in the prison Library . If I win a copy that is what I am going to do. My husband takes books into the prison Library just about every month. Thanks for writing Jerry’s story, you did an excellent job.
Author
Great to hear from someone who went to school with Jerry. He had some times as a teenager. I appreciate you reading his story and I’m glad you think I managed to tell it well. I wasn’t sure I could, but it turned out to be one of the fastest books I ever have written. If you will use the contact link on my website and send me your address, I’ll donate a book for your husband to take to the prison library.
I want to read his story.I love the cover.Maybe I will win, if not I will buy it and hopefully see you again sometime to get it signed.
Author
I’ve got you entered in the drawing, but if you don’t win and would like an autographed copy, you can order this book directly from me if you don’t mind paying the postage. Just go to the book page for Angels at the Crossroads under nonfiction and click on the buy link for information. https://www.annhgabhart.com/books/angels-at-the-crossroads/
Or it would be fun to see you and April again anyway.
I haven’t read this book yet, but it is on my list. I like the title a lot and the cover looks good.
Author
I like my books being on your list, April. Thank you for that. Always fun to hear from you. Maybe this will be the time you win a book. 🙂
Would love to win. Love your books and their message.
Author
I appreciate you reading my books, Judy. I do like being able to include a character’s faith journey in my stories. Jerry’s story is his testimony and it’s a powerful one.
God can do such change in a persons heart and life. I would love to read. Blessings
Author
That certainly happened to Jerry, Lucy. But then I suppose it happens to all of us when we turn our lives over to the Lord. Good luck in the drawing.
It sounds and looks like a very interesting story I would love to read. Thanks for giving us a chance at winning one.
Author
I’m glad you think this looks like a story you might like to read, Connie. I appreciate that. Maybe you’ll win.