Sunday Afternoon with Authors: Meet Five Christian Fiction Gems

Five authors – five amazing books – a fun-filled Sunday afternoon at Main Street Reads! Treats will be served and all are welcome – here’s a wonderful chance to meet the authors and grab signed copies of their work, just in time for holiday gift giving (or a wonderful gift for yourself!)

Here’s Who’s In the Lineup!

`Outer Bank Christmas` by Christina Sinisi: As the daughter of missionaries, Kerrie Alexander has lived on Hatteras—an island in the Outer Banks—longer than any other place she’s been. When her parents inform her the family is slotted to go overseas again, she balks. Her life on the island—her job, her friends, even the handsome hero in her Sunday School class—makes her want to put down roots. But to do so, she’ll need to find a place to live, and face being on her own, separated from any close family—something she’s never done before.

Firefighter and EMT Wade Hampton can face pretty much any emergency, except his matchmaking grandpa threatening him with disinheritance if Wade doesn’t get married in just three months. Not that Wade objects to the idea of marriage, but how does a guy who has no problem running into burning buildings find the courage to ask a girl like Kerrie out for a date? She’s a role model for everything good, and he comes from a rough and broken home. Not to mention, Christmas is right around the corner!

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

Licky the Lizard is one nice lizard and just like you and me, he’s one of God’s own creations. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget that we’re really all the same—- because He created everything in our world.

Licky the Lizard offers parents, grandparents, and educators a tale that teaches young children a simple, yet important message: There is no need to fear any of God’s creatures because we are all created by Him—and He loves us all.

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes laced with a bit of humor. With stories online and in print publications, Melissa hopes to encourage readers. Melissa is the author of “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”. Her passions are helping in the community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. Learn more at http://www.melissaghenderson.com

In Her Secret Desire, by Laurie Larsen, a shy theater manager with a controlling family dreams of moving into the spotlight but lacks confidence. A ruggedly handsome Latino man’s violent past makes him unwilling to accept help from anyone. Monica and Carlos are opposites in every way, but love doesn’t always strike when it makes sense.  Is Carlos, with his violent past, the key to Monica achieving her greatest dreams?  2023 Silver medalist in the Illuminations Award!

Beachy, heartwarming and inspirational, Laurie Larsen’s love stories contain a message of faith in addition to the Happily Ever After. Her beloved Pawleys Island Paradise series gained fans, not only because of the stories and unforgettable characters, but the “arrogantly shabby” real-life island setting. A multi-award winning author, she’s won the EPIC Award for Best Spiritual Romance, the Illumination Book Award for Inspirational Romance Fiction and the eLit Award for Religious Fiction.

In 2021, Patra Taylor rediscovered a stack of notes she’d scribbled during many happy hours reminiscing with her mother, who had grown up in Frankfort, Indiana during the first half of the 20^th century. A story of Christmas miracles emerged. The author found herself falling in love with Christmas all over again as she wrote about an era she had only experienced through her mother’s memories. By the time she completed One Christmas, Taylor had also outlined two additional novels, and more than a dozen short stories.

With these memories of her beloved mother ever near to her heart, the Sister Series was born, paying homage to the colorful people from her mother’s life who inspire Taylor’s characters. One Christmas, released in late 2022, is the first novel in the series.

A long-time contributor and former managing editor of the Charleston Mercury, Patra Taylor continues to write a regular column for that newspaper entitled, “On the Edge,” based on interviews she conducts with inspiring people from across South Carolina. The column recently featured Dr. Don Wilton, the pastor to Billy Graham.

In addition to the next book in the Sister Series, Taylor is working on a biography about the life and times of Lowcountry legend, Sidi Limehouse. The mother of three adult sons, Taylor lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband, Stephen Bucher, and their Australian Terrier, Olive. She may be reached at patra@patrataylor.net.

Kelsey R. Budd is an avid reader, creative writer, young adult author, and detailed book editor. Currently, she’s writing a Christian nonfiction on how to manage emotions in a mature and godly way and expanding her young adult speculative romance short story into a full-length novel. For her day job, she’s a substitute teacher and a private English tutor for students of all ages. “For fun, I sketch my characters, make earrings, and paint landscapes inspired by Charleston. My soul comes alive whenever I share a story, whether it’s my own fiction stories filled with adventure, my testimony of what God has done in my life, or the Bible itself.”

You can follow Kelsey’s writing writing blog on Instagram @TheArtsyEditor and at MyBookBuddyEditor.com – Kelsea is one of the contributors to the Anthology on offer:

A winner in the 2023 Golden Scroll Award, sponsored by AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association)

Tales of Light and Love: A collection of faith-filled novellas all inspired by Charleston Light, the wonderfully awkward-looking lighthouse that sits on the shore of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. The stories range from sweet romance to time travel to fantasy to a modern retelling of a beloved fairy tale. You will definitely find something you love on these pages!