The Prayer Warrior
by Traci Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batten
GENRE: Speculative Fiction
BLURB:
There
is a thin line between the natural and the spiritual realm.
Ms.
V., a humble servant of the Lord, has been placed on assignment at
Center of Hope Christian Academy.
By
day, she serves as a trusted counselor for students, giving them a
safe haven to pour out their innermost feelings while providing
professional and honest truth wrapped in a firm kindness and love
that inevitably draws them closer to Jesus. Not to be outdone, the
faculty also bends her ear from time to time.
By
night, Ms. V. enters the spiritual realm and takes her place on the
battlefield as one of God’s faithful prayer warriors. She wields
her whispering sword, slicing through the enemy’s plans to bind the
precious hearts under her charge.
Her
assignment’s burden on her physical body is taxing, but can she
withstand the strain and remain victorious?
Saving
souls is her true mission, but at what cost?
Readers
are in for a journey of spiritual intrigue and biblical insight as
they experience the ramifications of each character’s life-altering
decision.
Excerpt:
Ms.V. walked around the room, taking in the curio cabinet in the corner under the window, the maple shelving unit against the far wall, and the oversized plush chair and small glass table in the corner opposite to her desk. She used it as a quiet corner. There were small mementos along the surfaces given to her from students, past and present showing their appreciation for her words of honest wisdom and pure encouragement and positivity, and how she helped them from a moment of crisis to clarity. They were each symbols of gratitude for the love she had shown them over the years; the many talks with no judgment, just pure love.
Many times, she would encourage people to make themselves comfortable. To some, it meant taking off their jackets and scarves, to others it meant taking off their shoes.
She noticed the sound of slow rhythmic beeping and looked around for the cause, but just as quickly as it came, there was nothing but silence. It struck a chord in her, reminding her of what she’d overlooked.
She’d been so preoccupied by everything she’d dreamed that morning, and maybe imagined when she first placed her key in the lock, that she’d forgone her daily ritual of praying over everything seen and unseen in her office.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she focused on His presence. She ran her hands lovingly across the backs of the pleather chairs facing her desk as she prayed God’s love and peace would saturate them.
Interview with D. Tina Batten and Traci Wooden-Carlisle
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
D. Tina Batten: I've co-authored three books so far and The Prayer Warrior is my favorite. I love everything about this book from beginning to end. I love the concept of story, book design, format of the book and how each chapter will start with a chapter title, scripture and excerpt from that chapter of something significant the character will say in that chapter. Yup. My favorite thus far.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: I have written 14 books so far and I love them each for different reasons; always the story, the message in the story, ease of selling in certain genres, characters. My book that checks all of those boxes is “My Beauty For Your Ashes,” the first book in my Christian women’s fiction series. The Prayer Warrior is an easy second.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
D. Tina Batten: I'm glad you asked that question. It is Traci and I desire to indeed write a sequel in this powerful series. What I will say about the next book is that Madison, (supporting character of main character Ms. V.) will have to take the baton and run with it.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: I’m looking forward to our next book and getting to know our new main character’s background story. There may even be a love interest for her as she gains her footing as a prayer warrior.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
D. Tina Batten: My co-author Traci and I spoke about this not too long ago. We want each book to stand on its own with some sort of summary or homage to the previous characters. That way if you come into the third book in the series or the first book, you won't be lost in the storytelling.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: It would be good for each book to stand on its own. That way readers can choose between reading the whole series or reading the book that catches their fancy. It will be connected by theme and, as my co-author said, each story will give homage to or present opportunities for the previous character to do a cameo.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
D. Tina Batten: After going around and around, adding many possibilities to a list, the perfect name of the book was right in front of us the entire time. We shared a moment together overcoming that challenge. We had an “Ah-ha” moment, some might say.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: We had elements of the book cover before we figured out the title. We had a list that got more complicated and further away from the core story. Finally, we went back to what the whole story surrounded…the Prayer Warrior.
How long did it take you to write this book?
D. Tina Batten: Not only do we live more than two thousand miles apart in two different time zones, but we also work on other projects. We overcame that challenge by committing to carve out time every week for ourselves to work on our project. This allowed us to finish the book in two years.
What does the title mean?
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: The title refers to the main character who is an intercessory prayer (a person who prays under the prompting of the Holy Spirit). Ms. V. is a student counselor who prays for the students and staff of the Christian academy she works for. There are times when she battles for the souls of the people in her life in her dreams.
What did you learn when writing the book?
D. Tina Batten: I learned that I need to put more effort and time into my prayer and daily devotion. I want to strive to be more like the main character Ms. V. She is doing it right.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: I learned that I was wrong about writing being a solitary sport.
What surprised you the most?
D. Tina Batten: The ending of the book. You will have to read it to know what I'm talking about ;-)
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: What Tina said. LOL
Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
D. Tina Batten: No, I've never killed off a character the readers loved. Not yet anyways.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: I have and I cried more than they did. I cried when I realized it was going to happen. I cried leading up to it. I cried while writing it and I boohooed after. There was nothing insignificant about it otherwise I would have avoided it.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
D. Tina Batten: Actually, the characters of my storytelling will talk to me. I hear them in my head. Sometimes I tell them, "Hey, wait your turn or I didn't forget about you" when the voices become overwhelming and too loud.
Traci Wooden-Carlisle: I have gotten to know my characters in many ways. Some started sharing about themselves even while I was writing about their friends. I’ve had conversations with them and even interviewed some.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
D. “Tina” Batten is a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and Mima to her grandchildren. She is a gifted visual storyteller who is passionate about bringing encouraging messages of inspiration and hope to the world.
Tina Batten, a writer for over eighteen years of various dramatic works of performing art via stage, and film, encompasses unique ways of creating fascinating story concepts that touch the heart of most who view or read her work. She is both honored and thrilled to have teamed up with long-time friend, sister in the gospel and co-author Tracy on this phenomenal collaborative book project. With such a humble heart and desire to bring people together in love and unity, Tina Batten will continue her work as a visual storyteller spreading the good news of Jesus Christ one project after the other.
As Always, D. “Tina” Batten gives God All the Glory!
You can find her at the following social media platforms:
Website ~ Facebook Page ~ FB: Tina Batten Profile ~ Instagram ~ Twitter
Subscribe to Sister Batten's YouTube Channel
If Not For The LORD, Where Would I Be? Delicious Episode Trailer
Traci Wooden-Carlisle
Traci Wooden-Carlisle began writing to publish in 2011 and enjoys writing stories that provoke thought and evoke emotions. Her desire is to draw readers into the lives of her characters and share messages of God’s love, His faithfulness and peace. The messages in her books speak to her way before they speak to her readers.
Traci lives in San Diego with her husband, David. When she isn’t writing she does some light traveling or assists people with their physical fitness, creates graphics, designs pretty things for her jewelry business and swag for authors.
You can find her on the following social media platforms.
Website ~ Newsletter ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads
Facebook ~ Instagram ~ BookBub ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest
5 comments:
Thank you so much for featuring these authors today.
I enjoyed the excerpt and interview. Sounds like a good book.
This sounds like a good book and I really like the cover.
Do you celebrate holidays and if so do you have a favorite?
looks like a fun one
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