A Chat with Terry Overton

Good Afternoon, readers!
This polar vortex is a doozy. If you’re anything like me, you would rather stay indoors than be out in this mess. For some of you, you are at home with the kids or grandkids due to school cancelation. Wel, todays interview might be just what you need for those middle-grade readers.
Today, I have with me Terry Overton. Terry has written a children’s book that I know will entertain and inspire the children in your life. With a title like Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel how could it not.
So, grab some coco, curl up under that warm blanket and lets have a chat. 
Welcome to the table, Terry. You are new to Back Porch Reads readers, so please share with us a little bit about your writing journey. 
How do you typically approach the writing process? Do you have a specific routine or ritual?
I am a spontaneous writer for the first draft. After that, I am more structured.
How do you develop your characters? Are they based on real people or entirely fictional?  
A mix sometimes. There might be touches of real people within a fictional character.
Now, lets talk about Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel. What was the initial spark or idea that inspired this book?
My daughter and her family were the inspiration for this book. She has fostered eleven children and she and her family adopted a little boy not long ago. She is an inspiration for many and adoption is the topic of this book.
Are there any secondary characters in your book that hold particular significance to you? If so, why?
Yes! Mrs. Hooper is my favorite character even though she is not the primary character. She is an elderly lady who inspires and informs the middle school girls about faith, family, and Scripture. Love how gentle she is with the girls and helps them to see the larger picture of life.
 What setting(s) did you choose for your book, and why were they important to the story?
The middle school was one setting and of course all the drama that comes with that age. The other settings include a nursing/rehab center and the home of an elderly neighbor.
Can you describe your writing process for this book? Did you encounter any unique challenges along the way?
One challenge was figuring out exactly the kind of adoption the parents used and how that was important to the plot. I learned about the differences in private adoptions and open adoptions and those which were government type (county) vs. church adoptions, etc.
Did any real-life experiences or events influence the narrative of your book?
Yes. My grandson is a computer whiz and the incident that landed Charlotte in suspension actually happened to him. Another student used my grandson’s meme and sent it out to the whole school. Since my grandson created it, he was suspended as well as the boy who shared it across the whole school.He is a straight A student so of course he was mortified! A hard lesson to learn.
It sure is. 

Thank you so much for joining us, Terry. I hope this tour blesses you and that your book ministers to the hearts of it’s readers. 

Readers, please continue to read more about Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel and Terry Overton. Then, when you hit the end of th blog, please be sure to enter the giveaway. 

Grace and Peace, 

Melissa 

About the Book

Book: Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Middle Grade Reader Fiction

Release date: November 26, 2024

Charlotte McMaster is in trouble. Some innocent memes shared to the whole school have resulted in community service at a rehabilitation center for the elderly. But her time with Mrs. Abigail Hooper will at least get her out of the tension at home, where her father stays out late working and her mother spends a lot of time worrying.

But when Mrs. Hooper invites Charlotte to spend time in her garden, she tells Charlotte about an angel that appeared to her when her husband died. Charlotte is drawn to the elderly woman and soon finds herself bringing her best friend, Ellie, on her visits as well. Seeking for answers about her adoption and her biological parents, Charlotte continues to be drawn to the garden to see if she can see the angel for herself.

Will Charlotte ever be able to find the answers she is searching for? Or will her search tear her family apart?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean. She has two children, seven grandchildren, one great granddaughter. Her writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals. Her books have won Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her books examine real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels. She and her husband live in the southern tip of Texas where they enjoy semi-tropical weather and spending time with their friends and family.

More from Terry

My daughter is an amazing person. After having three children, she and her husband felt God calling them to do more for children without parents. They fostered eleven children. But one year, they were asked to foster a newborn infant whose mother was no longer able to care for any of her children due to drug addiction. It was not that the child was rejected by his mother but that she could not care for him. My daughter brought him home from the hospital at the age of three days while he was having withdrawal symptoms from meth. After a few months, they decided to adopt the child. The process took a while because, for a short time, the child was allowed to return to his birth mother. He now lives with my daughter’s family, and he is an absolute delight and a great addition to the household. Charlotte McMaster and The Messenger Angel is dedicated to my daughter. It is a middle-grade reader about a middle school girl who, while wrestling with the question of being adopted and being rejected by her birth mother, meets a fascinating elderly lady. The vision of an angel provides help and guidance as this young girl comes to realize her adoptive parents were selected for her by God. This story conveys themes of healing, hope, and spiritual discovery. Through the character of Charlotte McMaster, the novel explores how a young girl, navigating the challenges of family tension and personal identity, seeks guidance from earthly and Heavenly sources. The elderly Mrs. Abigail Hooper tells Charlotte about her own experience with an angel. This introduces Charlotte to the idea of divine presence, sparking her curiosity about her past and adoption.

Blog Stops

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 18

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 19

A Reader’s Brain, January 20 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid lit, January 21

Back Porch Reads, January 22 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 23

Simple Harvest Reads, January 24 (Author Interview)

Bizwings Blog, January 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26

Texas Book-aholic, January 26

Artistic Nobody, January 27 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 28

Guild Master, January 29 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 30

Fiction Book Lover, January 31 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Enter Giveaway Here

4 Comments

  1. traciemich
    traciemich on January 22, 2025 at 10:14 pm

    If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

    Reply
    • sidlaw0425
      sidlaw0425 on January 27, 2025 at 7:22 am

      This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  2. Nancy P
    Nancy P on January 23, 2025 at 2:26 am

    Fantastic interview, congratulations.

    Reply
  3. Jcp
    Jcp on January 23, 2025 at 11:22 am

    I enjoyed the interview

    Reply

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