Kim Vogel Sawyer talks about When Grace Sings
An interview with Kim Vogel Sawyer,
Author of When
Grace Sings
Bestselling
author Kim Vogel Sawyer believes in the power of second chances — a theme she’s
captured with poignant grace in her new book, When Grace Sings (WaterBrook
Press/March 17, 2015/ISBN: 978-0307731333/ $14.99),
which follows the CBA bestseller When Mercy Rains in The Zimmerman
Restoration Trilogy. Sawyer says the series is based on one simple truth: “God
gives second chances. We as humans make our mistakes, we flounder and err and
build walls that seem insurmountable,” Sawyer reveals. “When we confess our
wrongdoings and ask God to redeem us, He brings restoration.”
When
Grace Sings introduces
readers to Alexa Zimmerman who has relocated to Arborville, KS, where she’s
converting her grandmother’s farmhouse in Old Order Mennonite country into a
bed-and-breakfast. Inspired by her own experience of running a B&B, Sawyer
was able to depict perfectly the charm and challenges she details in the book.
Q: When Grace Sings explores second chances
in life. Why do you believe second chances are important?
Very
seldom in life do we get everything “right” the first time. Humans stumble and
fail. But God doesn’t want His children to remain mired in regret and
“what-might-have-beens.” As silly as that might sound, God will give us a Plan
B when our Plan A falls apart, and His plan always leads to satisfaction and
restored joy.
Q: Is
it ever too late for a second chance?
In
my humble opinion, no. As long as we still draw a breath, there is time to turn
ourselves around, make restitution, and start out again with renewed purpose.
With God as our guide, we can make better choices the second time around.
Q: Who
is your favorite character in When Grace Sings and why?
Oddly
enough, the least likable character in the beginning became my favorite as the
story progressed. Briley Forrester seemed such an egotistical person, cocky and
uncaring. But so much of that came from a deeply imbedded sense of insecurity.
As I got to know Briley, I began to admire his ability to rise above the
challenges of his broken childhood. And when the Spirit began tapping at the
door of his heart, I found myself actually praying he would open the door and
allow God’s Spirit in! I so wanted this character — this fictional
character! — to experience healing and peace. Plus, how can you not love a guy
who knows how to tease at just the right moment?
Q: Do
you have a least-favorite character?
In
all three books of the series, Shelley (Suzanne’s sister) occasionally made me
wish I could pinch her. But she ended up endearing me to her in the end.
Q: Is
Alexa starting a bed-and-breakfast inspired by your own experience as a B&B
owner? If so, what is the best thing about running a B&B? What is the
hardest?
I
would never have considered writing a story including a B&B were it not for
our experiences at The King’s Inn. The best part, easily, is meeting the people.
We met so many wonderful folks we wouldn’t have known any other way. We loved
the chance to spoil them a bit, to see them relax and smile, and I savored the
hugs when they left. They came as strangers and left as friends. And that
brings me to the hardest part—the goodbyes. It’s nice, though, that we are
still in touch with many of our guests through Facebook.

My mom always said God gave us discernment
for a reason. We can keep ourselves out of trouble if we listen to that little
voice that says, “Be careful.” There’s a difference between being compassionate
and being a chump.
Q: Why do you
think family relationships can sometimes be so sticky?
Honestly, I think it’s because we expect
better from family. We expect to be loved unconditionally, to be forgiven when
we mess up, to feel as though we belong. When the secure base is yanked away,
we flounder. When family hurts you, the wound goes much deeper than one
inflicted by a stranger or an acquaintance.
Q: You cover real-life topics in your story
including single motherhood, adoption, family secrets, lost love and more.
Which topic is closest to your heart and why?
Definitely
the topic of raising a child who isn’t yours biologically is near and dear to
me. My oldest daughter has the joy and privilege of mothering two children who
were not born to her but have won such a significant portion of her heart.
Watching her form a tender relationship with these children whom I love as my
grandchildren has been so beautiful.
Q: A
variety of family relationships are also present including mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter,
cousins and more. Which one in When Grace
Sings do you see as the most complicated? The strongest?
I think the most complicated, in some ways,
is also the strongest: the relationship between Suzanne and Anna-Grace.
Although Suzanne spent 20 years separated from Anna-Grace, the love that
bloomed in her during pregnancy never dimmed. She is prohibited from openly
embracing the child to whom she gave birth, which provides the complication,
but her love for Anna-Grace is tenacious, making it strong even though it’s
one-sided.
Q: Is it
better to bring family secrets out into the open or to try and cover them up?
Secrets exposed to the light of day lose
their power. Unless the secret would bring more pain than healing, I think
honesty is the better choice.
Q:
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
The
theme that rolled through the back of my heart as I wrote was a simple truth: God
gives second chances. We as humans make our mistakes, we flounder and err and
build walls that seem insurmountable. But when we confess our wrongdoings and
ask God to redeem us, He brings restoration. It’s NEVER too late for a second
chance.
Learn
more about Kim Vogel Sawyer and When Grace Sings at www.kimvogelsawyer.com, on Facebook (KimVogelSawyer.Author.Speaker) or by following her on Twitter (KimVogelSawyer).
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