Welcome to the Blog Tour for Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Charting the Course
Series: Finding Faith series
Author: Leslea Wahl
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Genre: YA Christian Adventure
Stuck on a ship with her estranged father for this high school reunion – not a merry way to spend the holidays. But could an onboard mystery and a cute boy be the course correction Liz needs?
Set amid the beauty of the Caribbean islands, Charting the Course delves into the topics of fractured families, generational high-school dramas, taking responsibility for your actions, and focusing on faith to keep us anchored. The twists and turns in this high-seas adventure will keep the reader bracing for the next wave of intrigue.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Also Available
About the Author
Leslea Wahl lives in beautiful Colorado and is the author of several award-winning teen novels. She strives to write stories that encourage teens to grow in their faith through fun adventurous mysteries. Leslea is often inspired by her family, their travels, and real-life adventures. She particularly enjoys including the furry, four-legged members of her family in her novels. Besides writing Leslea also reviews faith-based novels on her website and is a founding member of CatholicTeenBooks.com.
Connect with Leslea by visiting lesleawahl.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.Author Interview
Welcome, Leslea! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allowing my readers a chance to get to know you and your new book Charting the Course.
I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice. Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio?
Charting the Course is the first book I’ve written that doesn’t include one of my pets.
My family and I have been scuba diving in the Bermuda Triangle.
I hope to visit all 50 states. I still have 10 on my list.
Each October, I watch the Twilight movie series with a friend—we have a great time trying to quote the lines and poking fun at the scenes and characters.
For a very long time, I dreamt of attending Veterinary School. I even spent years taking all the pre-requisite courses but ultimately knew I was meant to stay at home with my children.
When did you first discover you had a passion for writing?
I’ve always been creative, imagining stories for as long as I can remember. When I became a mom, I thought of writing picture books and workbooks, but I never imagined I’d write an entire novel—especially one for teens.
What drew you to writing YA fiction?
My pathway to becoming a writer of YA fiction occurred during a search for clean teen fiction for my own children. I was having trouble finding wholesome, fun adventures and wondered why people didn’t seem to be writing the types of books that I was searching for. Then one day, the idea for my first novel, The Perfect Blindside, just popped into my mind. The characters and scenes kept coming to me until I finally had to write it all down. New ideas have continued to flow, and I’ve been writing teen novels ever since.
If you had to describe your main character(s) in this story in just three words each, what would they be?
Talented, Wounded, Clever
Can you tell us a little bit more about Charting the Course?
Ever since Liz’s parents divorced, she and her father have endured a strained relationship. So, she’s surprised when he invites her to spend part of the holidays with him on a Caribbean cruise. However, this is not just any cruise but his 30th high school reunion. While Liz dreamt of such a vacation, being stranded on a ship with her estranged father is not her idea of a merry holiday.
While an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and a cute boy help turn the tide on the unwanted trip, Liz and her father drift even further apart. Then when Liz’s reckless actions create a tsunami of unintended consequences, she recognizes that she’s drowning in pent-up hurt and anger. As her carefully created façade begins to ebb away, she turns to her faith and sets off to chart a new course for her life.
Set amid the beauty of the Caribbean islands, Charting the Course delves into the topics of fractured families, generational high-school dramas, taking responsibility for your actions, and focusing on faith to keep us anchored. The twists and turns in this high-seas adventure will keep the reader bracing for the next wave of intrigue.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life? The most rewarding?
The most challenging part was trying to convey the emotions of the scenes. Liz expresses herself through her singing, and I really wanted to show the depths of her childhood pain. I was so relieved when several advanced readers told me they were moved by those sections.
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
The importance and power of forgiveness. And that it’s never too late to mend the wounds of our past.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Before you go, where can readers follow along to see what’s coming next?
Readers can visit my website, www.LesleaWahl.com. Every other month, in my News, Clues and Reviews newsletter, I share my writing updates, reviews of faith-based books for the whole family, and a fun online puzzle that provides clues to my different stories.
I can also be found on Facebook at LesleaWahlBooks and on Instagram @MinistryThruMystery.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each win signed copies of Charting the Course, Into the Spotlight, and Where You Lead by Leslea Wahl!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 26, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
This one looks great. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
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