Angel In The Storm

Lisa Grace’s, “Angel in the Shadows Series” – Has been named by AOL as a Christian alternative to the Twilight series. Here’s more about this fascinating book and its author: 

Angel in the Storm, Book 2

Fifteen year-old Megan’s younger brother Max has been kidnapped by Judas, an evil angel, who is determined to make Max hate God and lose his soul. Framed for Max’s murder, Megan, along with the help of Johnny who is a good angel, and her friends, must stay one step ahead of the police and an approaching hurricane in an attempt to save Max’s life and soul before it’s too late.

Main Characters

Megan Laughlin – The heroine, a fifteen year old who has the “gift” of seeing angels, demons and other spiritual creatures.

Judas – A handsome evil angel bent on destroying Megan, her classmates and everyone she loves.

Johnny – A warring angel sent to earth to fight Judas.

Seth – Megan’s boyfriend who is now a target.

Vania – a Gothic girl who was almost destroyed by Judas and now helps Megan battle this evil angel.

Robby – Seth’s best friend, a boisterous, handsome jock who gets pulled into the fight between good and evil.

What is the setting for your novel? 

Angel in the Shadows, takes place in the present, starting at a summer camp, in North Carolina, and then back in Megan’s hometown of Clearwater, Florida, in time for the new school year. Megan’s high school becomes a battlefield in the fight between good and evil. Book 2 picks up right after Book 1 leaves off, and takes the gang on a trip to New Orleans in an attempt to rescue Max.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing stories when I was five years old. I requested a typewriter for Christmas that year so I could write “Star Trek” scripts. I always have an idea notebook on-hand.

What is your motivation?

I love books about the supernatural. There are so many about vampires; but hardly any of the books out there deal with the supernatural from a biblical point of view. Angels and demons are mentioned over four hundred times in the Bible. Other supernatural creatures are discussed too. Few of the books make it cool to be human. We have a soul and a spiritual war is going on whether we choose to “see” it or not. Our soul is important. I think this is a frightening and awesome prospect. I wanted to write novels from these perspectives.

I also wanted to confront the issues teenagers are facing today, drugs, sex, teen pregnancy, abortion, etc… The Angel series characters are dealing with these problems head-on.

Who or what was your inspiration?

My main inspiration came from the Holy Spirit. They are in the classic style of good vs. evil, saved vs. unsaved. I think all teens will enjoy how my human heroines and heroes find the strength to do the right thing.

The people I admire the most are the ones who do the right thing day in and day out because that is who they are. I know several in my community.

What are your future plans?

I plan to write several books for the Angel series since there are so many problems teenagers face in their high school years that I haven‘t touched on yet. I am currently working on the third book in my Angel series which is planned for release in November as an ebook.

Also, I have started working on another series called, Society of the D. E. A. D. It will be in the same vein as Angel in the Shadows but with a twist to the main characters you won’t discover until the end of the novel. When I’m not writing or reading, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

What is your next book?

My first book, Angel In The Shadows, ends with Megan’s younger brother Max, missing. In book two, Angel in the Storm, we find out that Max has been kidnapped by Judas the evil angel, and sold to a human trafficking ring. In the book I will be touching on the issues of child pornography, runaways, homelessness, and hunger as Max makes his way home. Evil angels and demons are hunting for Max while Johnny, Megan, Seth, and Vania search for him.

At the same time, a hurricane is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. Help and danger appear from unexpected sources and one of the main characters will die at the end and book. Book three will continue the saga.

Where did you grow up?

I lived part of my childhood in Milwaukee and had to walk five blocks to school, even in the snow! In the summer we would head to the north woods of Wisconsin and stay in cabins or go camping in tents. In my teen years I grew up in Clearwater, Florida, where my friends and I would take the bus to the beach in the summers and stay all day. I also spent many hours volunteering at the Clearwater Public Library and acting with the Clearwater City Players.

Where do you live now?

I spend part of my summer in the northwoods of Wisconsin, and live full-time along the Gulf Coast of Florida. I just saw a wild turkey in the backyard yesterday. I was going to post a picture of it on Facebook asking, “What kind of seagull is this?”

We visit Knoxville, Tennessee as often as we can to see my brothers. One lives in Knoxville and another lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Who are the authors that you admire?

The writers who inspire me the most are those who clearly define good versus evil. My author friends: Frank Perretti, Janalyn Voight, Debby Mayne, Katie Weiland, Linda Yezak, John Robinson, Jen Jones, Jill Williamson, Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky, Jeff Gerke, Christina Berry, Jerry Jenkins, etc…

And then those I don’t know: C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Lee Strobel, and Dean Koontz. I admire Stephen King’s work ethic, his book On Writing, and some of his works like The Green Mile, Needful Things, The Stand, and the novella, The Long Walk. I still don’t understand why no one’s made that one into a movie.

Why do you write?

I write because I have stories to tell. Behind the story is a truth. I’m afraid not to write them. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and say, “What if…” Also, I honestly believe if I don’t write them, someone else will. When I write the story the characters take on a life of their own. Many of my plot twists come to me as I’m writing and are not planned in advance.

When did you realize that you wanted to write a novel?

I’ve always considered myself a writer. At the age of five I asked for a typewriter so I could write down my Star Trek scripts. This last few years I finally got disciplined and set a goal of writing two thousand words a day, no matter what, day in-day out. That advice came out of Stephen King’s book, On Writing.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

No, I haven’t had a problem with writer’s block. I just ask myself, “What if…” or “What happens next?” I just have them go to the next place, take the next step and voila an idea pops into my head of where the story, plot, or character is to go. If you get in the car and drive, you’re bound to wind up somewhere. Getting to where you want to go from there just might be the best part of the drive.

When do you write?

I write whenever I get a block of time. The most important thing is getting in the two thousand words per day. I pour myself a cup of coffee, sit down at my desk, close the door, and get into my character’s world.

How did you feel when you finished your novel?

Validated as a writer. Elated that I could say I am a novelist. Thankful to God that one of my dreams had come true. And now that I’m starting on my fourth, (a third one is in the editing stage right now) I realize I can do this for a living.

What other careers have you had outside of writing?

I used to work in the computer industry, I was a Sales Director for eight years at major cosmetic company, and most recently I was a Musical Theater Director for a dance academy in Florida. I’ve also served as a volunteer at a Crisis Pregnancy Center. I enjoy helping to rehab wild animals and letting them go. I’ve been blessed to have followed many of my dreams.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to finish your novel?

My largest obstacle was time management. I am married and have a seven year-old. Also, I was still working on a major production of Cinderella for the dance academy and teaching Sunday School, all while writing my two thousand words a day for my first novel.

Are there any of your own life experiences in the book?

Absolutely. I loved going to camp as a kid and a young adult. I still do. Also, my volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, gave me a window into the conflicts and mixed messages society gives teenagers.

Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

Yes, two things.

AOL picked the Angel series as the Christian alternative to the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers for their Top Ten Most Challenged Book List of 2010, and the best pet I ever had was an opossum. A full-size Virginian Opossum. He was paper-trained and we had him for almost four years before he passed away from old age. He would talk lovey talk, cuddle on our laps, and travel in a cat carrier. Opossum’s deserve more respect as America’sonly native marsupial!

AOL named it the Christian alternative to the Twilight series. see link: http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2010/05/07/top-ten-most-challenged-books/

Angel in the Storm, Book 2 by Lisa Grace is an ebook available on Amazon.com for 2.99 July 1st, 2011

Contact the author at lisagracebooks@yahoo.com and http://www.lisagracebooks.comto read an excerpt from her 2nd novel in the Angel series, Angel In the Storm.

Angel in the Shadows

Book 1

Megan Laughlin, a fifteen year old sophomore in high school has the gift of seeing  angels and demons. Megan then attracts the attention of Judas, an evil angel, who wants to destroy her, her classmates and loved ones. Megan must deal with being a target of Judas and still handle all the problems of a normal teenage girl. She manages to save some teens from over-dosing at a rave, confronts damaging gossip and watches her best friend make a life altering decision. Meanwhile, Megan feels helpless as Judas manages to destroy two classmates and sets out to seduce or destroy Megan in the process. Can Megan save others while being a target herself?

Angel in the Shadows, Book One by Lisa Grace, hard cover is distributed through Ingram Books and is available through Barnes & Noble, www.Amazon.com

The ebook launched May 24th, 2011 and is available through http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052AI5W8 for 99 cents. It has been on the Teen Top-Twenty Amazon List since its debut. See Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_12?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Akindle+books%2Cn%3A%211000%2Cn%3A28&bbn=1000&keywords=kindle+books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307412306&rnid=1000#/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Akindle+books%2Cn%3A%211000%2Cn%3A28&page=2&bbn=1000&keywords=kindle+books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307412318

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: