Interview with Suspense/Inspirational Author Gail Pallotta

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association, she won Clash of the Titles in 2010. Her teen book, Stopped Cold, was a best-seller on All Romance eBooks, finished fourth in the Preditors and Editors readers’ poll, and was a finalist for the 2013 Grace Awards. She’s published five books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums.

Welcome back to my blog, Gail. This book is number eight in Prism Book Group’s Love Is...series. Please tell us about this series.

It’s taken from I Corinthians 13: 4 - 8. Each author has written a novella about one of the phrases in the passage. Book number one, based on “Love is patient,” is Hounded, by Anita Klumpers. Each book is released as a single e-book and will be paired, or already has been grouped with another e-book, for print copies. My book, Breaking Barriers, will be in print with Julie Cosgrove’s Navy Blues, book number seven based on “Love Is Not Self-seeking.”

Your story in this series is Romantic Suspense. Tell us about your novella, Breaking Barriers, which is based on Love Is Not Easily Angered.

In this action-packed thriller gunshots ring out as Ann Jones enters church. She hides in the bathroom until they stop then stumbles into the sanctuary. The congregation lies dead in pools of blood. To rebuild the church she starts True Light Guardians. At the first meeting she’s attacked by a terrorist but rescued by James Crawford. He melts her heart, cold from her father’s abuse, and they fall for each other. She’s afraid to commit to love that might grow angry later like the type she knew as a child. James yearns to stop other attempts on Ann’s life, but can’t. Tormented by her constant risks, he breaks up with her. When an assault sends her to the hospital, an unlikely ally shares Ann’s plight with James, but he reveals a lead that puts all three of them in even more danger.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

When I learned that Prism Book Group wanted to publish a series taken from I Corinthians 13: 4 - 8, I wanted to be part of it, but wondered if I could write something worthy of the Scripture. How could I even choose? I kept reading the verses until finally “Love isn’t easily angered” caught my eye. Years before I had written a book about Christians worshipping underground because those angry at Christianity tried to destroy churches and their congregations.

I wanted to also add a personal story too. I decided to contrast a consistently loving character to one who claimed to love, but demonstrated anger in his actions and words. I gave the victim of this anger a strong faith. Christianity is her fortress. It means so much to her she’s willing to defend it against the unsavory people attempting to destroy it. The book had been in my desk and my heart for a long time, and now when it appears we need to wrap ourselves around all the kindness we can find, it seemed right to bring it to life.

Tell me about the main character and what you love about him or her?

The main character, Ann Jones, has survived physical and verbal abuse by her father and her beloved mother’s death. By clinging to the faith her mother taught her as a child, she’s finished college and manages Beach Lady, a boutique in White Sands, Florida. She’s depended on God to fill the voids and needs of her life for as long as she can remember. When she loses her church home to a terrorist massacre and learns other churches are receiving threats, she’s determined to keep Christianity alive.

I love her devotion to her faith, her perseverance and bravery. 

Where can my readers find you online?

My website is http://www.gailpallotta.com

My blog: http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore

Twitter, Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords

Thank you so much, Gail, for this interview. I read this book and have posted a review below. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

“Breaking Barriers begins with a church that is being attacked by an anti-Christian terrorist group. This story is a suspenseful romance. When Ann Jones organizes an underground group of Christians, then the terrorist leader finds out and hires someone to get rid of her. The underground group is called True Light Guardians and they discuss ways of protecting themselves and still worship God. Since the anti-Christian terrorists are attacking all the Christian churches and killing anyone who carries a bible or cross, Ann is trying to help those who are afraid for their lives and the lives of their family. With the help of James, a caring and romantic guy, they both try to protect the Christian world from attack.” –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke