You’re in for a treat today as I’ve invited Shelia Stovall over to tell us about her books. Shelia is a librarian here in Kentucky but she also writes some great stories with engaging characters and fun settings. I met her a few years ago and can tell you I’ve rarely met anyone with a sweeter heart for people. You’ll see that in her stories. But that’s enough from me. I’m turning the page over to Shelia. I know you’ll end up loving her and wanting to read her stories set in the fictional little town of Weldon, Kentucky.
Take it away, Shelia.
Thank you, Ann, for inviting me over to talk to your reading friends today. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Elk Lak Publishing released my first novel, Every Window Filled with Light. I never imagined it would be a finalist for a Selah award in two categories, First Novel and Contemporary Women’s fiction. My second Weldon novel, Every Day Filled with Hope, will release on Friday, April 1, 2022.
If you love small town stories of hope, with meddlers and match-makers and a bit of a travel adventure, I think you’ll enjoy my new novel. I take my readers from Weldon, Kentucky, all the way to Niger, Africa, and back to Weldon.
I wouldn’t have believed them if anyone had told me ten years ago that I’d be a published author and have logged seven mission trips to Africa. God has led me on difficult journeys outside my comfort zone, both on the mission field and on the writing journey. I am so thankful I met people like Ann to encourage me, and that I didn’t allow fear to stop me.
I don’t want to spoil the story for you readers. Still, in my new novel, Every Day Filled with Hope, many of the situations in Niger that the main character Casey experiences, I drew from my work on the mission field. Through the years, we’ve worked with children and shared Bible stories. We always take a rainbow-colored parachute because the children love it. They can also sit on it while we tell Bible stories. Oral story-telling is a part of their culture, so the children and adults listen to us with an intensity that astounds me.
One year, we visited an orphanage, so I had Casey and her team visit an orphanage in the novel. There was a sign on the wall that I included in my book. You’ll just have to read my book to find out what the sign says. 
The news media paints West Africa as a hostile place for Westerners. However, I’ve always been treated as an honored guest. It’s always difficult for me to take the best seat. However, I’ve been trained that in a country so poor, sometimes the best seat they have is all they can offer a guest, and it would be an insult if you don’t accept their hospitality. The people I’ve met in Niger are poor yet filled with joy and laughter. Sadly, since I last visited Niger four years ago, travel for Westerners in Niger is limited to the capital city of Niamey due to terrorist activity. I continue to pray for the people we’ve met in the villages.
The Niger River is beautiful, and I’ve traveled on the ferry to cross it many times and hired a fisherman to take me across in a small boat to avoid the ferry’s diesel fumes. Casey experiences all of these things in the book. 
Each of my novels stands alone, but if readers have read the first Weldon novel or any of my novellas, they will be happy to catch up with Emma, Luke, and Harley. Also, Mayor Willoughby and Ms. Dot from the Triple D are busy taking care of everyone in Weldon. The main characters in Every Day Filled with Hope are Casey and Luke. They love each other, yet they have secrets. Do you think love without trust is enough to hold a relationship together?
As in my first novel, the theme of Every Day Filled with Hope is forgiveness. I hope readers will visit my make-believe town of Weldon and fall in love with the locals. They are far from perfect, but they try to take care of each other, and they love their neighbors.
You can download three free novellas from my website www.sheliastovall.com under the media tab to make some brief visits to get to know the people in Weldon. All you have to do is subscribe to my blog. Of course, you are free to unsubscribe at any time.
Thank you all so much for reading about my books and my mission adventures. Here’s a little more about Every Day Filled with Hope.
Back Cover Copy for Every Day Filled with Hope
Nineteen years ago, a powerful and influential man assaulted former runway model Casey Bledsoe, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy. Casey’s biggest regret is allowing fear to influence her to give up her baby for adoption.
It’s mere days before Casey and Daniel are scheduled to leave Weldon, Kentucky on a mission trip to Africa when Casey receives a letter from Madison, her eighteen-year-old daughter. Hope for healing begins.
Still, Casey grapples with telling those closest to her what really happened. That includes Daniel, the man she loves. Daniel’s a cop, and Casey is afraid of how he’ll react. Little does she know, Daniel has his own secret he’s keeping. As each day passes and they face more trials in the African wilderness, their hidden truths tear them further apart.
If Casey and Daniel don’t learn to trust each other and forgive, there’s no hope their love will hold them together.
Thanks so much, Shelia, for sharing about your new book and about your missions experiences. What a blessing you surely were on that trip and now sharing your stories with all of us. I think you all will really love getting to know the people in Weldon. Shelia’s book is already available on internet sites like Amazon. Plus next week, April 1st through the 7th, look for a great ebook deal on her first novel, Every Window Filled with Light. The special price of $1.99 may not be live until April 1, so always check the price before you hit the buy button to be sure you’re getting the deal you expect.
Book Giveaway Opportunity
Shelia is offering a giveaway of a copy of her new book, Every Day Filled with Hope, to one of you. Just leave a comment for Shelia and your name will go in a drawing for the book. Deadline to enter is April 5, 2022 at 12 midnight, EST. You must be at least 18 years old to enter and have a USA mailing address.
Have you ever been on a mission trip overseas or here in the states?
Meet Shelia
Shelia Stovall is the director of a small-town library in southern Kentucky and it tickles her to see shocked expressions when folks learn she’s traveling to Africa—again. She’s the worst missionary ever, but God continues to send her to the ends of the earth.
Shelia and her husband Michael live on a farm with their two dogs. Spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, is her all-time favorite thing. The only hobby Shelia loves more than reading uplifting stories of hope is writing them.
Comments 90
I’m looking forward to reading Every Day Filled With Hope; it would be wonderful to win a free copy!
Thank you, Shelia, for sharing your heart (& God’s heart!) in your stories.
Anita
Author
You sneaked in before the deadline, Anita. So good luck in the drawing. It’s always fun to win something, especially a book you want to read.
Hi Anita,
Good luck in the drawing. Even if you don’t win, you can download a free novellas from my website under the media tab. There’s a Sassy Creek Christmas, A Fork in the Road, and Weldon’s Secret Santa.
I hope you enjoy visiting Weldon.
Thanks for stopping by.
Warm Regards,
Shelia
Hi Shelia,
You have been given a writing talent that many wished they have. I loved your 1st book and the way the characters came to life.
I am excited to read your next book.
Author
I think you’ll love Shelia’s new story. Thanks for stopping by to read about her writing and her missions trips.
Hi Rose,
Thank you! I loved the picture with your sisters that you shared recently. I hope you enjoy your next trip to Weldon.
Hugs,
Shelia
Author
Mary, Happy Birthday month. I love birthdays so much I think a person should celebrate all month. Birthdays are a time to hope for a great year to come your way.
Debbie, Shelia’s book is fun to read, but it does have some serious themes. That makes it even better. And such a pretty cover too. Love her “Every” theme to the titles.
Megan, Weldon is a fun place to visit in Shelia’s stories. Her first one, Every Window Filled with Light is on special e-book sale this week. You can grab it on your e-reader for $1.99.
Sally, it sounds as if your mission trip might have taken extra courage and trust that the Lord was with you.
Shari, I agree that even though some of us don’t actually go on the mission trips to foreign countries, we can pray for those that do. Plus, there are many opportunities to help people in need right in our own neighborhoods. A mission of prayer is one we can all undertake.
Hi Sheila,
I have never been on a missions trip but I have been blessed to know those who have gone mission trips and then missionaries out in the field. I’m thankful that even though I haven’t I can have a part by prayer and, thought this the other day, even those who have gone on to Jesus we can be blessed in helping carrying on the mission in prayer.
Hi Shari,
Every time we go on a mission trip, we have prayer partners and believe me, I feel their prayers. Prayer might be some of the most important work we do.
Thank you for stopping by.
Warmly,
Shelia
I did a missions trip in the garbage dumps of Mexico City. Can’t wait to read Shelia’s second book after enjoying her first book.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for stopping by. How wonderful to have someone with your skills as a physician on a team. You might be able to relate to Dr. Sparky who travels with Casey to Africa. No that I think about it, you have a lot in common. She has a great sense of humor and has plenty of spunk.
I hope enjoy Every Day Filled with Hope.
Hugs,
Shelia
This sounds like a lovely story, thank you for the chance to win a copy!
Hi Megan,
Thank you! I hope the readers enjoy traveling to Weldon and on to Africa. Good luck in the drawing. If you don’t win, perhaps ask your public library to order a copy. We are always happy to honor patron requests. It makes our job easier when readers tell us what they want to read.
Thanks for stopping by.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Shelia, I loved reading some of your story-behind-the-story events in this post. I cannot wait for everyone to read Every Day Filled With Hope. Such a good, good book. You know I adored the Africa scenes. It made me want to leave that very day! Congratulations on a fabulous book.
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for stopping by and for ENDORSING my book. I’m so very grateful to have friends like you and Ann to help me.
Hugs,
Shelia
I am thrilled to be able to enter for a chance to win your book. We all need hope! And April is a time of new beginnings, and my birthday month!
Thanks for considering!
Happy Spring!
Hi Mary,
Happy Birthday month. I love people who celebrate their birthdays the whole month. Good luck in the drawing. If you don’t win, perhaps ask youe public library to order a copy. We always try to honor patron requests. It make my job so much easier when deciding what books to buy.
Thank you for stopping by.
Warm regards,
Shelia
I’m really looking forward to reading Sheila’s second book! Congratulations!
Hi Bev,
Thank you! I hope you love it.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Author
Amy, Shelia does a great job making her characters come to life. Love her stories too.
Kristi, sound like you’re a hometown friend and reader. I love my hometown readers. I’ve used my little hometown as a setting for some of my novels. I always say that none of the characters are based on anybody in my hometown and that’s a story I’m sticking to. LOL. Not sure what Shelia says about the characters she drops down in her small town settings, but she does make them come to life.
Ola, I think you will enjoy Shelia’s books.
Emilee, a new book is always an accomplishment. I admire those writers who work a full time day job and get those stories written after hours like Shelia.
Natalya, I enjoyed seeing Shelia’s pictures and hearing about her missions trips too. I loved how she used those experiences in her new story.
Robin, you’ll love the story.
I give praise to those that love and are able to go on Mission Trips. I have a friend, whom is now in her 80’s that will be going to Jordan in October. She always takes as much as she is allowed to give away to those in need.
Author
Your friend sounds like an amazing woman, Eileen, who knows the Lord puts no age limits on helping others. People who give time and money to mission trips are to be admired and supported.
Hi Eileen,
I would love to travel to Jordan. I feel blessed that God has blessed me with the health and ability to travel to other places. We always weigh our trunks and take as much as we can to those in need. I also try to buy things there to bring home to help merchants. Traveling to those places has opened my eyes as to how God has blessed me.
Thanks for stopping by.
Warm regards,
Shelia
I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Hi Robin,
You have no idea how happy that makes me. I hope you love it.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Regards,
Shelia
What a journey! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Natalya,
It has been a journey, and I’m still on it, Praise God. I hope I have the opportunity to return to Niger soon. I’ll be visiting with the missionaries who live there in June. And, of course, I’m still on the writing journey too. I have so many stories I want to write.
Take care,
Shelia
Congrats on your new book!
Hi Emilee,
Thank you! I’m thrilled and terrified. In a few days the reviews will start coming in. I just hope the story touches the readers’ hearts and they feel uplifted when they read the last page.
This sounds like a great read with interesting characters and great location.
Hi Ola,
First, I love your name. It’s so unique. It might show up in one of my future stories. I wish I could draw. The characters in my book are fictional, but as I picture them in my mind, they become very real to me.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Warm regards,
Shelia