R&R Book Tours is so pleased to kick off the blog tour for “Embracing Hope”!
Embracing Hope (Release Date: November 2016)
Take a poignant look into the broken heart and daily struggles of Christian college dean Drew McKinley. The story chronicles the turbulent first year in his desperate journey to understand God’s motives for the sudden death of his wife and his quest to find hope in his future.
Crossing his perilous path are Allison, a graduate student and new employee in the dean’s office, and Chris, the handsome but egotistical student senate president.
The road Drew must navigate is fraught with career upheaval, a reawakening heart and the struggle for forgiveness and restoration. Will Drew finish his journey to embrace the hope God offers, the love Allison shares and the guidance Chris needs, or will he turn his back on all three with catastrophic consequences?
Excerpt from “Embracing Hope”
When Drew got back to his condo after breakfast with Mitch, he took recycling bins from the garage and headed straight for his office. He pulled open the top drawer of the filing cabinet, labeled “Dissertation,” removed all the folders and tossed everything in a bin with a satisfying thump. He turned on the TV for company and for the next several hours sorted through files and books, occasionally reading, mostly shredding. Taking the framed photo from the bookshelf, he wrapped the UConn afghan around it and placed it carefully in his briefcase. Sitting down at the computer, he composed a new email.
Dr. Cavanaugh,
Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve as Dean of Students at Riley University. Riley is an outstanding university devoted to its students and committed to serving God. It’s been a privilege to work here.
However, it is in the best interests of the university and its students that I resign the position of Dean of Students, effective immediately. I will contact Human Resources upon your acceptance of my resignation to complete the necessary exit procedures.
Blessings,
Andrew McKinley
Without hesitation, Drew hit “Send.”
He looked up a phone number on his contact list. “Ed, this is Drew McKinley. Could you give me a call as soon as you can? I need to put the condo up for sale.”
Next he went online and checked flights to Hartford. He frowned at the airfare, but booked a one-way ticket for eleven the next morning. He perused the online career section of the Chronicle of Higher Education and made notes.
Going into his bedroom, Drew hauled out a suitcase from the back of the closet and laid it on the unmade bed. He pulled out clothes from the bureau, placed them in the suitcase and stuffed a couple of suits in a garment bag. The bottle of pills on the bed stand caught his eye. He poured out two, then two more, and swallowed all four without water. Closing and moving the suitcase to the floor, he lay on the crumpled linens. He glanced at the clock: 2:38. Closing his eyes, he let the memories—bittersweet as they were—engulf him.
He saw his preschool teacher leading him to his little desk as his mother lingered in the doorway.
He saw himself as an eight-year-old on his knees next to the bed asking Jesus into his heart.
He saw his mother taking a picture of him in his high school cap and gown.
He saw Kendra grinning across the table in the student union, a dollop of whipped cream from the latte on her nose.
He saw her floating down the aisle on her father’s arm.
He saw Tony behind his desk, interviewing him on a sunny, spring day.
He saw him and Kendra kissing in the gazebo during orientation.
He saw the white casket being put inside the white hearse.
He saw Allison at the Christmas party in the sparkly green dress.
He saw her with Eliza nestled in her arms.
He saw the red car with the bashed-in rear fender in the ramp.
The shrill squeal of the phone sliced through his ears, a crack of thunder shook his bed, and Drew bolted upright in the darkened room. The red numbers of the clock glowed 9:12. He leaped out of bed, but when he stood his legs buckled, and he fell over the suitcase onto the floor. The phone screamed at him again. Like a flood, the dream from the bus rushed back: the storm … the ramp … the exit sign … footsteps … Allison!
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About the Author
Janell Butler Wojtowicz, born and raised on an Iowa farm, was one of those kids who loved to write the dreaded “What I did on summer vacation” essay. She wrote stories for her own enjoyment, including a short story about a teenage drug addict—something of which she knew nothing about. Her cousin illustrated the cover using Halloween orange paper featuring a hypodermic needle.
Janell attended the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in, naturally, Written Communication, adding a Journalism Emphasis. She returned to Iowa where she worked as a reporter/editor at three small town newspapers for 10 years.
Janell left the small town Iowa life when she married, Frank Wojtowicz, a family friend who lived in Minneapolis. (By the way, her Polish last name is pronounced “Why-tow-vitch.) She worked in public relations at her alma mater, the University of Northwestern; Leadership Foundations, a nonprofit organization supporting inner-city Christian ministries; and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Today, Janell owns a freelance service, A Portrait in Words, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.
Much of Janell’s writing has been the “people stories” of trial, tragedy and triumph, which are reflected in her debut novel, “Embracing Hope.” The idea for the novel came after watching a BBC version of “Jane Eyre” in 2007. That night she dreamed the beginning, pivotal scene in the middle and the ending of “Embracing Hope”, and began writing it the next day. Unlike her first story, she was very familiar with the setting of “Embracing Hope”: a Christian college campus.
She and Frank, live in New Brighton, Minnesota, a pleasant suburb of the Twin Cities. She has two step-sons, a step-daughter-in-law, and three step-granddaughters.
Janell Butler Wojtowicz| Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads| Twitter
Blog Tour Schedule
Dec 18th
Reads & Reels (Feature Promo) http://www.readsandreels.com
Love Books Group (Excerpt) http://www.lovebooksgroup.blog
The Christian Fiction Girl (Interview) https://christianfictiongirl.blog
Dec 19th
The Bookworm Chronicles (Excerpt) http://muretbookworm.wordpress.com
Book Reviews by Shalini (Excerpt) http://www.bookreviewsbyshalini.wordpress.com
Dec. 20th
Captive Dreams Window (Review) https://captivedreamswindow.wordpress.com/
Reading is My Superpower (Promo) http://readingismysuperpower.org/
Dec. 21st
Didi Oviatt (Excerpt) https://didioviatt.com
Tenntwo Musings (Review) https://tenntwo.wordpress.com/
Dec. 22nd
Literary Dust (Excerpt) https://literarydust.wordpress.com
Discerning Lillies (Review) http://discerninglillies.wordpress.com
Dec. 23rd
Kristin’s Novel Café (Review) https://knovelcafe.wordpress.com
Book Lover in Florida (Promo) http://bookloverfl12.wordpress.com
Touch My Spine Book Reviews (Review) http://www.touchmyspinebookreviews.com
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