From the Ruins

From the Ruins is the first 'mature-age' book I've written. (As I'm not quite in my later years, I hope I did okay!) The main characters were inspired by people I know who have lost their life partners in recent years. In particular, I drew inspiration for Sandra's character from a lady I know who felt utterly lost after the death of her husband, to the point where she was paralysed by fear and didn't have the courage to feel alive again. After a lifetime of ministry serving beside her husband, she suddenly found herself alone and without a purpose. Even the simplest of tasks would overwhelm her, and she lost all sense of who she was. With time, and with God's healing, she began to step out of her comfort zone and realise her new 'normal'. By doing so, she discovered a path that she would never have chosen for herself. A path with new opportunities, new experiences and a newfound joy.

I really enjoyed bringing these characters to life, and exploring the idea of trusting God and finding love again in the 'twilight' years. I also enjoyed writing about my beautiful country, Australia, particularly the east coast and some of the places I have visited. 

The overarching message in From the Ruins is about learning to let go of the life we imagined for ourselves and learning to trust God. When we do that, when we release our fears and let go of our closely held expectations, we can learn to step fearlessly into the unknown because we know The One who holds our future, and we can have confidence knowing His plans are always far better than what we could ever imagine for ourselves.

Life becomes an adventure when God is leading the way. 

I hope you enjoy From the Ruins - and if you've read it, why not let other readers know what you think.

Keep an eye out for the rest of the Winds of Change series. In the meantime, you can purchase From the Ruins here.

From the Ruins