Dawn's Dreams: Guest Post - Emerald Barnes, Author of Entertaining Angels

Welcome friends to a very special post today. I've got a guest here. She's the author of the book Entertaining Angels & Before I Say I Do. Both of the books look really good. When I was contacted a while back about reviewing the books, I unfortunately wasn't able to agree to reviewing the books due to a packed schedule, but I did agree to host the author here with a guest post. So without further ado, here is Emerald Barnes and her guest post which is an interview with the author by one of the characters! ~Dawn

Chase: Let’s welcome Author Emerald Barnes to the stage.

I shake my head as I walk to the empty chair sitting in front of Madison and Chase.

Emerald: Thanks, Chase.

Madison: She laughs. In a strange turn of events, we get to interview our creator.

Emerald: I’m not sure this is a really good idea, guys. I should be interviewing you.

Chase: You’ve already interviewed us. Can’t do it again.

Emerald: I roll my eyes and laugh. Whatever you say, Chase.

Madison: Let’s get started, shall we? Emerald, you’re all about promoting a healthy body image and building up women, so what would you say is your best feature?

Emerald: Well, I guess I probably shouldn’t say my eyes. Madison shakes her head. I think I would have to say my smile. It’s what most people notice first about me, so they’ve said. One woman I met in an airport said that I had such a sweet and kind smile, and most people didn’t look at a stranger and smile. I made a new friend that day, so I would say that.

Chase: But do you like your body? You’ve said a hundred times over that Madison’s story is so very much like your own.

Emerald: It is very much like my own. Except, I didn’t have you in high school. Chase beams at me and then at Madison, grabbing her hand. She smiles shyly. But, I can honestly say on some days I’m okay with it, not really hating it, but others, I still struggle with looking at myself in the mirror. It’s not easy loving a body that the world tends to say is “ugly.” The world’s views seep into my mind, and I can’t help but feel so ugly.

Madison: She nods, complete understanding in her eyes. It’s not easy. I still struggle with it from time to time, myself. Chase stares at her in confusion.

Chase: You’re both beautiful. Remember what God said, you two.

Madison and I exchange a look and nod.

Emerald: You’re right. We have to remember that we’re beautiful despite what the world says.

Madison: Exactly. Now, let’s move on to a safer topic. She laughs. Why did you create us?

Emerald: You were stuck in my head, and I had to write about you. Your journey might have been very different if I hadn’t listened to the small voice in my head telling me to go this route. I was originally going to write just your love story, about you being the fat best friend and falling in love, but you needed to hear that you are beautiful. It was then that God interceded. He wanted us, and others, to know just how much we are loved, and how beautiful we are.

Chase: Personally, I’m glad our story happened the way it did. Did you ever once doubt what you were doing?

Emerald: I laugh. Just all the time. I wasn’t sure how it would be received. I thought that it was so uncommon and strange, but it’s been well–received thus far. Everyone seems to love you two, including me, but it wasn’t easy. I kept thinking that people would discredit our book due to me not really knowing how angels worked and the like, but I was wrong. Thankfully.

Madison: Yes, thankfully. I can’t thank you enough for our happy ending.

Chase: It hasn’t ended yet. Isn’t that right, Emerald?

Emerald: He’s right. You two just had your own short story in which you were wed. Congratulations. They both smile. But, I’ll be bringing you two into each book in the series, I think. I know you’re in book two. I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t be in the others.

Madison: So you’re saying you’re turning this into a whole series?

Emerald: Indeed I am. I can’t desert all of the people out there who need help. Stories need to be told, and people need to know the love of God, especially teens, in their lives.

Madison: I couldn’t agree more. I think I want to work with teens somehow. I could always use my story to help them.

Chase: I think that’s a good idea. Don’t you, Emerald?

Emerald: I smile a knowing smile. Of course I think that’s a great idea. Your story could reach hundreds – or more. You can help them, Mads, and that’s what Entertaining Angels is all about. It’s about reaching people who needs to know that they are loved.

Chase: Well, I know that message came across to Mads. I sure do hope it did others.

Emerald: So do I.

Madison: We’re getting off topic. We always seem to do that. Emerald, tell us what you think about angels. How was it writing about them?

Emerald: I always knew that angels existed, but I never really knew how they worked. Well, I knew they protected us, but I never thought about them coming to earth in human forms to help us. I love the idea of having a guardian who cares enough to save us from the supernatural forces working against us, as well as basically being the hands for God. They do what He wants them to, and I really feel like I’ve gotten a deeper understanding of how much God loves us by writing about angels and how He uses them to protect us from harm.

Madison: Well, I think you did a great job. There was something so fun and interesting about Zach. Of course I would think so, right? He’s my guardian, but I think you managed to capture his essence. I guess what I’m saying is that people loved him, too.

Chase: Of course they did. He’s Zach.

Emerald: I laugh. I hope you two are right. I know I love him. Maybe I accidentally wrote about my own guardian.

Madison: Hey now. He’s mine.

Chase: He raises his eyebrow. Ladies, he’s an angel. He can be in more than one place at a time.

Madison and I laugh.

Emerald: Of course. How about we end this interview now? I have to go write more books.

Madison: Good idea. Make us a cool couple, okay? I don’t want to get all weird when we get older.

Emerald: No worries about that.

Chase: Now, everyone, check out our book, Entertaining Angels, and then read our short story. (It’s personally my favorite.) Chase gives everyone a cute little wink before wrapping Madison into his arms.

About Emerald Barnes:

Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women. She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it.

She mainly writes suspense/thrillers in the YA genre, but she dabbles in other genres and her books are enjoyed by all ages! She’s constantly working on new novels and has more ideas than she knows what to do with. She blogs which takes up more of her time than she anticipates but loves it so very much! She’s also a volunteer at the World Literary Cafe which is amazing, and she is a crazy grammar nazi who proofreads novels!

She’s an auntie to three beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews who take up the other half of her time, but she couldn’t imagine spending her time in any other way!

She’s a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person. God is number One in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor.

Entertaining Angels:

Madison Andrews can’t face her reflection in the mirror. All she sees is a big, fat nobody. Yet, deep inside she longs for something more, something that’s not skin deep.

Along comes Zach, the new guy in school. He’s smoking hot and totally out of her league. She somehow catches his eye, and he makes her feel beautiful for once. But just as she gets close to Zach, her nerdy best friend, Chase, won’t let Madison doubt her true beauty, no matter how many meals she skips.

Even as Madison begins to realize that she is more than what she thinks, darker forces are at work, darker than the lies and mocking from her peers, stopping her from amounting to her full potential. Can Madison find true happiness in her own skin?

Before We Say I Do:

Following the best-selling first book of the series, Entertaining Angels, comes Before We Say I Do, An Entertaining Angels Short Story.

Chase Sanders and Madison Andrews are about to declare their love for one another in the most sacred of ways. Everything has been going perfectly, especially when an old friend returns to town to stand by Chase’s side on their big day. But is Zach there to see their union, or is he concealing the truth of why he’s actually back in town?

Chase has lived perfectly fine without his father around, but now that his father is divorcing again, he is seeking forgiveness. Chase can’t look at his father, let alone forgive him.

Before Chase and Mads can say “I Do,” Chase must first learn to let go of the past before the dark forces that haunt his nightmares come to life.

*This is a short story and isn't a prequel to Entertaining Angels. In order to understand it, you'll need to read Entertaining Angels first.*

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