Andrea Renee Cox

The Melding of Faith and Story

by Andrea Renee Cox

Faith and story are two of my favorite things. Every time I read through the Gospels, I cherish how Jesus melded the two together in His parables. I like to think He has taught me to do the same in my own stories. Mine don’t carry the weight of faith for all of humanity, but they are touched by the lessons of faith that He’s infused into my soul.

When I write, I seek the story God would have me tell. The themes and lessons that come out in every story are by God’s hand, for He guides me through each draft. Often, this means I am surprised at what themes and lessons my characters will face and learn throughout the book.

In Melting-Pot Thanksgiving, which will be published in Novelists in November this autumn, a theme I was surprised by was adventure. It came through beautifully in how Sarah writes her middle-grade novels, how she approaches life with her foster children, and how she views everyday life. Her faith was crucial to each, as she leaned on God for guidance much as I do.

For Sarah’s book, she relied on God not only for content but also for time in which to work on it. With Thanksgiving rushing up on her, she was tasked with crafting the meal, which meant she had even less time to meet her tight, already extended deadline. Prayer was crucial to her journey; without it, she shouldn’t have a chance to succeed during such a busy season. It was neat to see the ways those prayers played out and how her story shaped up.

Sarah gave each of her foster children room to grow and explore. She encouraged them to cherish the heritages from which they came. Her heart for these children and their birth families as well as their culture came through exquisitely as she mothered the children and supported them through a difficult season. One child’s mother was in prison, while the other child’s grandmother was in the hospital. Those weren’t easy things for her kids to bear, but Sarah made sure her children felt loved and comforted through each turn of events. Her faith strengthened her through this, as she couldn’t have gotten through these things alone—and neither could her children.

Everyday life was an adventure for Sarah. She approached each day as if it held all manner of wild escapades, even if those were simply baking sweet potato casseroles or making sure her children had plenty of things to do when they were stuck inside on a rain-splattered afternoon. It was through her faith in God that she saw life’s whimsy, and she hoped to share that with her children through the way she lived as well as the stories she wrote. Every moment was a chance to share her sense of adventure with the people she most dearly loved.

Writing about Sarah’s adventures reminded me of the ones I’ve been blessed to experience in life. Some have been fun, such as road trips across America with my parents and sister. Others have been dark and dreary, such as when I was on my deathbed with the Wuhan Virus (aka Covid-19). In both the positive and negative sorts of adventures, I have leaned heavily on my faith in Jesus Christ and God Almighty. Without Them, adventure would not exist in my life. They have taught me to see adventure in every moment of my life. This is something I hope to infuse into each of my stories.

I’m glad Melting-Pot Thanksgiving ended up with the theme of adventure because it is such an important one in my life. It’s one I hope shall inspire my readers, that they might also learn to see adventure in each and every moment with which God blesses them.

It was also a joy to infuse this story with faith. It’s a pairing I dearly love. It’s one I look for in virtually every book I read, so it only makes sense that I should write in this way. It is my hope that readers will appreciate this pairing in Melting-Pot Thanksgiving.

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Novelists in November is now available for preorder. If you purchase a copy in ebook or paperback prior to the release date of November 19, 2024, you may claim preorder goodies, which include an entry into an exclusive giveaway. Be sure to get in on the fun!

If you’d like to follow my writing and faith journeys, you are welcome to subscribe to my newsletter and follow my blog. I’m also active on Twitter and Goodreads. It would be my honor to have you along for this incredible journey God has granted me.

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Thank you, Miss Swinborne, for hosting me today. It’s a pleasure visiting with the readers of Story Anchor.

About the Book

Novelists in November

a Wild Blue Wonder Press anthology

Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!

Andrea Renee Cox: “Melting-Pot Thanksgiving”

Bethany Willcock: “And As She Talked”

Hannah E. Gridley: “Reasons to Be Thankful”

Katja H. Labonté: “Act in the Living Present”

Faith D. Cox: “My Heart Still Sings”

Kellyn Roth: “Tollemache House”

Katie Zeliger: “Finding Beauty in the Suffering”

Shira J. Rodriguez: “The Lost History of Lavender Lockbourne”

Heather Flynn: “Pages of Grace”

Avrie Swan: “The Sound of Healing”

Kelsey Bryant: “Between Moor and Mountain”

Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox

Can she create the Imperfect Perfect Thanksgiving?

Sarah Jones has many responsibilities on her plate, but Thanksgiving wasn’t supposed to be one of them. When asked to host the holiday, she can’t push aside the task, even if it means dealing with her mother’s interference. As Sarah juggles meal preparations, a tight writing deadline, and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events, she must also find the courage to buck high expectations and family traditions. 

Will the trials of strained communication, disappointment, heartache, and altered plans strengthen Sarah’s God-given novelist dreams? Will this imperfect yet dutiful daughter find a way to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner?

Book Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7KX58NB 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/novelists-in-november-a-wild-blue-wonder-press-anthology-by-kellyn-roth-and-katie-zeliger 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215022493-novelists-in-november 

Wild Blue Wonder Press Shop: https://wildbluewonderpress.com/product/novelists-in-november-paperback-preorder/ 

About Andrea Renee Cox

Born and raised in north Texas, Andrea Renee Cox is a born-again child of God who enjoys writing stories that inspire, copy-editing fiction manuscripts, tutoring middle school students, and going on road trips with her family. Whether she’s working on historical or contemporary, women’s fiction, romance, or romantic tragedy, she uses her skills in research and writing techniques—as well as a large dose of prayer and guidance from God—at every turn in the journey to produce the best story of her ability every single time. Her books may be found on her website, and readers are welcome to follow her blog and subscribe to her newsletter for the latest updates in her journey. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/andreareneecox
Blog: https://andreareneecox.com/blog/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-renee-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/andreacox
Newsletter: https://andreareneecox.com/newsletter/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreareneecoxauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/screenwriter87
Website: https://andreareneecox.com

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