Georgiana Daniels resides in the beautiful mountains of Arizona with her super-generous husband and three talented daughters. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in public relations and now has the privilege of homeschooling by day and wrestling with the keyboard by night. She enjoys sharing God's love through fiction and is exceedingly thankful for her own happily ever after.
Visit Georgiana Daniels online
Shadows of Hope
Crisis pregnancy worker Marissa Moreau suspects her husband is cheating, but little does she know how close to home her husband’s infidelity hits. College student Kaitlyn Farrows is floundering after a relationship with her professor leaves her pregnant. Soon she lands a job and a support system at the local pregnancy resource center and things seem to be turning around. But when Marissa and Kaitlyn become friends, neither one knows they share a connection—Colin, Marissa’s husband and Kaitlyn’s former professor. When their private lives collide, the two women must face the ultimate test of their faith and choose how to move forward as they live in the shadows of hope.
- ISBN: 1-6832-2545-7
- Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Interview with Georgiana Daniels
Life is nothing if not unpredictable, and it can throw us curve balls when we least expect it. Georgiana Daniels can attest to this first-hand. One of her key takeaways she shares is, “you can have the worst thing imaginable happen to you and still come out with your faith intact. Even more than that, you can come out with your faith refined in such a way that others see God’s love in ways they haven’t yet experienced.”
Georgiana has dedicated her current book to her oldest daughter, who became a widow at the very young age of twenty-two. A shock like that sets you on one of two paths. The first could be one of depression and withdrawal, overcome by grief and trapped in the view of only what’s directly in front, unable to step back to see the big picture. The other is reaching out for help and moving through the stages of grief, so it’s possible to eventually heal and find the joy. Your faith is shaken, and your entire world changes in both scenarios, but in the second, you are willing to see beyond just yourself.
Despite numerous prayers and big faith, Georgiana’s son-in-law died of a rare and incurable condition. After some truly anguishing times, her daughter is now filled with compassion and grace that amazes her, more ready than ever to share God’s love with others. What a testimony! With experiences like this happening in her own life, it’s no surprise she tackles the difficult subjects in her books and features compelling characters you want to get to know.
A lot of readers often ask authors where they get the inspiration for their stories. A frequent response is, “from real life.” It might seem like a pat answer, but it’s true. Authors are storytellers, and the best ones dig deep to tap into those raw emotions which rip at the heart of the reader and make the characters jump off the page.
Erica Vetsch, a multi-published author who also digs deep into the emotional barrel, says this: “Georgiana is a courageous writer. She emotionally takes you to a place other authors rarely dare, making you care about her characters while eagerly turning pages. Just when you think you can’t bear the tension and heartache a moment longer, she shows you the true beauty of God’s love. Because she braves taking her characters to the brink of emotional destruction, the redemption story shines even brighter.”
Jaci Miller says, “Daniels offers no easy answers—a realistic and appreciated approach to a thorny reality. Characters hurt, grieve, and struggle for peace, just like the rest of us.” Every trial we face will make us more like Christ, if we let Him shape us as we walk through it. No matter what happens in life, there is joy on the other side.
That joy can’t be found alone, though. Relationships are the key. A close one with God is essential, but we are also called to fellowship with others here on earth. Georgiana credits these relationships as the most significant in her publication journey. “Without the people God allowed me to walk this road with, I would not have made it to publication. So many people played a role, whether they knew it or not. There are writing partners, mentors, cheerleaders, and encouragers who nudge me along.” She hopes she’s done the same for others as well. She believes it’s important for all of us to look around and see how we can help a new struggling writer. Georgiana’s heart is for those who have struggled and felt stuck, just like she did for so many years.
Initially, she pitched her work on her own, but that didn’t work out so well, because she’s a nervous wreck, and when she’s nervous, she babbles and cracks silly jokes. There goes the professionalism factor! Now, she works with Tamela Murray and the Steve Laube Agency. This relationship has been a match with a harvest that far exceeds what was planted.
Georgiana shares that Tamela is both gracious and kind, full of encouragement, and possessing a great business sense. Her favorite experience working with her was on a proposal Tamela was about to send out, then had second thoughts. “She had Steve read it over, and together they pinpointed a few problem areas. Tamela called me, and we had a long conversation about it. During that talk, I finally identified an issue I’d been having for years, but it was kind of under the radar, so to speak, until she helped bring it to light. The fact that they both took the time to help me figure out this issue meant the world to me! That’s the kind of value Tamela and Steve bring to the table, and I am so grateful.”
Having an agent like that can make even the dry spells bearable. Georgiana confesses to times when her writing wasn’t abundant. She soon realized a direct correlation between her writing and her faith. During seasons of life when her faith waned, she didn’t have much to write about, at least nothing she felt was worth reading. When she stays closely connected to God, though, and tries to live in prayer, it keeps her sharp and makes her excited to write about every detail. “Just thinking about it makes me want to hide out with God!”
When that happens, God has a unique way of breathing life into our stories. Georgiana feels it’s sometimes hard to spot the unique qualities in her own writing, but she’s been told she’s fearless. She simply enjoys a good moral dilemma that builds to catastrophe, as is evident in the remarks mentioned earlier. When catastrophe happens, she takes it all the way. She’ll go there even when it’s uncomfortable. She’s pretty sure the words, “She went there,” will end up on her tombstone.
Although at some point, she’s tried all the genres out there, right now, she’s loving women’s fiction because she gets to explore the gray areas. She loves the messy parts where the answers aren’t simple or clear cut, because that’s how life is , and she wants her stories to reflect that truth. That’s why the tagline on her web site is, “Real Life, Real Hope, Real Fiction.”
A bit of that “real life” invades Georgiana’s writing time every day. Although her oldest daughter is an adult in the world and doing a fabulous job, the two younger girls are hitting the teens. Homeschooling them seems to require a much different skillset than teaching them in the early years.
“The biggest hurdle is time and staying organized while wearing eight different hats at any given moment. But that’s where prioritization comes in. Making sure the days/hours/minutes are all aligned with both my family and personal goals makes an enormous difference in getting everything done. In the afternoons, I often schedule myself down to 15-30 minute increments. I delegate the things that don’t have to be done by me, I work quickly but thoroughly on the things that are important, and I mostly don’t do the things that won’t make a bit of difference when I take my last breath. Plus I adore to-do lists. As long as we’re being candid, I’ve been known to write something down that I’ve already done just because it feels so good to cross it off. Surely I’m not the only one!”
Can you relate? I know I can!
But life isn’t all about work. There must be time for hobbies too! For Georgiana, there are so many activities and hobbies she loves, and new ones she wants to try. “Reading (an obvious one!) and knitting top the list. Things I wish I had time for: drawing, painting, coloring, scrapbooking, decorating—the list is endless. Life is so cool! But there’s one thing I loathe—and that’s probably not even a strong enough word for how I feel. It’s exercise. There, I said it. It’s out there. And yet I do it almost every day, because…Cheetos.”
With reading at the top of Georgiana’s list, she admits to reading more fiction than God’s Word. The Bible is on her nightstand with other books, but that’s a new challenge she wants to conquer, spending as much time in Scripture as she does reading fiction. In the future, Georgiana wants to “worry less, pray more, and enjoy God’s blessings.” How amazing life would be if we all did that!
Commitment. It all comes down to that. And Georgiana wants to encourage all of you to, “Keep writing! If you have the desire planted by God and the determination to continue no matter what happens, you can do this. Write for the love of writing, and if you get to share it with others, that’s a beautiful bonus.”
_____________________________________
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having an active imagination and a flair for the dramatic. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who works in the health & wellness and personal development industries, helping others become their best from the inside out. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and son, and a Shiba Inu-mix named Nova. She has sold over 20 books so far, three of which have won annual reader's choice awards. She is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. www.amberstockton.com.
Georgiana has dedicated her current book to her oldest daughter, who became a widow at the very young age of twenty-two. A shock like that sets you on one of two paths. The first could be one of depression and withdrawal, overcome by grief and trapped in the view of only what’s directly in front, unable to step back to see the big picture. The other is reaching out for help and moving through the stages of grief, so it’s possible to eventually heal and find the joy. Your faith is shaken, and your entire world changes in both scenarios, but in the second, you are willing to see beyond just yourself.
Despite numerous prayers and big faith, Georgiana’s son-in-law died of a rare and incurable condition. After some truly anguishing times, her daughter is now filled with compassion and grace that amazes her, more ready than ever to share God’s love with others. What a testimony! With experiences like this happening in her own life, it’s no surprise she tackles the difficult subjects in her books and features compelling characters you want to get to know.
A lot of readers often ask authors where they get the inspiration for their stories. A frequent response is, “from real life.” It might seem like a pat answer, but it’s true. Authors are storytellers, and the best ones dig deep to tap into those raw emotions which rip at the heart of the reader and make the characters jump off the page.
Erica Vetsch, a multi-published author who also digs deep into the emotional barrel, says this: “Georgiana is a courageous writer. She emotionally takes you to a place other authors rarely dare, making you care about her characters while eagerly turning pages. Just when you think you can’t bear the tension and heartache a moment longer, she shows you the true beauty of God’s love. Because she braves taking her characters to the brink of emotional destruction, the redemption story shines even brighter.”
Jaci Miller says, “Daniels offers no easy answers—a realistic and appreciated approach to a thorny reality. Characters hurt, grieve, and struggle for peace, just like the rest of us.” Every trial we face will make us more like Christ, if we let Him shape us as we walk through it. No matter what happens in life, there is joy on the other side.
That joy can’t be found alone, though. Relationships are the key. A close one with God is essential, but we are also called to fellowship with others here on earth. Georgiana credits these relationships as the most significant in her publication journey. “Without the people God allowed me to walk this road with, I would not have made it to publication. So many people played a role, whether they knew it or not. There are writing partners, mentors, cheerleaders, and encouragers who nudge me along.” She hopes she’s done the same for others as well. She believes it’s important for all of us to look around and see how we can help a new struggling writer. Georgiana’s heart is for those who have struggled and felt stuck, just like she did for so many years.
Initially, she pitched her work on her own, but that didn’t work out so well, because she’s a nervous wreck, and when she’s nervous, she babbles and cracks silly jokes. There goes the professionalism factor! Now, she works with Tamela Murray and the Steve Laube Agency. This relationship has been a match with a harvest that far exceeds what was planted.
Georgiana shares that Tamela is both gracious and kind, full of encouragement, and possessing a great business sense. Her favorite experience working with her was on a proposal Tamela was about to send out, then had second thoughts. “She had Steve read it over, and together they pinpointed a few problem areas. Tamela called me, and we had a long conversation about it. During that talk, I finally identified an issue I’d been having for years, but it was kind of under the radar, so to speak, until she helped bring it to light. The fact that they both took the time to help me figure out this issue meant the world to me! That’s the kind of value Tamela and Steve bring to the table, and I am so grateful.”
Having an agent like that can make even the dry spells bearable. Georgiana confesses to times when her writing wasn’t abundant. She soon realized a direct correlation between her writing and her faith. During seasons of life when her faith waned, she didn’t have much to write about, at least nothing she felt was worth reading. When she stays closely connected to God, though, and tries to live in prayer, it keeps her sharp and makes her excited to write about every detail. “Just thinking about it makes me want to hide out with God!”
When that happens, God has a unique way of breathing life into our stories. Georgiana feels it’s sometimes hard to spot the unique qualities in her own writing, but she’s been told she’s fearless. She simply enjoys a good moral dilemma that builds to catastrophe, as is evident in the remarks mentioned earlier. When catastrophe happens, she takes it all the way. She’ll go there even when it’s uncomfortable. She’s pretty sure the words, “She went there,” will end up on her tombstone.
Although at some point, she’s tried all the genres out there, right now, she’s loving women’s fiction because she gets to explore the gray areas. She loves the messy parts where the answers aren’t simple or clear cut, because that’s how life is , and she wants her stories to reflect that truth. That’s why the tagline on her web site is, “Real Life, Real Hope, Real Fiction.”
A bit of that “real life” invades Georgiana’s writing time every day. Although her oldest daughter is an adult in the world and doing a fabulous job, the two younger girls are hitting the teens. Homeschooling them seems to require a much different skillset than teaching them in the early years.
“The biggest hurdle is time and staying organized while wearing eight different hats at any given moment. But that’s where prioritization comes in. Making sure the days/hours/minutes are all aligned with both my family and personal goals makes an enormous difference in getting everything done. In the afternoons, I often schedule myself down to 15-30 minute increments. I delegate the things that don’t have to be done by me, I work quickly but thoroughly on the things that are important, and I mostly don’t do the things that won’t make a bit of difference when I take my last breath. Plus I adore to-do lists. As long as we’re being candid, I’ve been known to write something down that I’ve already done just because it feels so good to cross it off. Surely I’m not the only one!”
Can you relate? I know I can!
But life isn’t all about work. There must be time for hobbies too! For Georgiana, there are so many activities and hobbies she loves, and new ones she wants to try. “Reading (an obvious one!) and knitting top the list. Things I wish I had time for: drawing, painting, coloring, scrapbooking, decorating—the list is endless. Life is so cool! But there’s one thing I loathe—and that’s probably not even a strong enough word for how I feel. It’s exercise. There, I said it. It’s out there. And yet I do it almost every day, because…Cheetos.”
With reading at the top of Georgiana’s list, she admits to reading more fiction than God’s Word. The Bible is on her nightstand with other books, but that’s a new challenge she wants to conquer, spending as much time in Scripture as she does reading fiction. In the future, Georgiana wants to “worry less, pray more, and enjoy God’s blessings.” How amazing life would be if we all did that!
Commitment. It all comes down to that. And Georgiana wants to encourage all of you to, “Keep writing! If you have the desire planted by God and the determination to continue no matter what happens, you can do this. Write for the love of writing, and if you get to share it with others, that’s a beautiful bonus.”
_____________________________________
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having an active imagination and a flair for the dramatic. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who works in the health & wellness and personal development industries, helping others become their best from the inside out. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and son, and a Shiba Inu-mix named Nova. She has sold over 20 books so far, three of which have won annual reader's choice awards. She is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. www.amberstockton.com.
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