Ask the Author: Christina Ryan Claypool
Answered Questions (5)
Christina Ryan Claypool
The best advice I have for aspiring or discouraged writers is simply to "Forget Rejection: Keep Writing." Recently, Seriously Write blogspot hosted me as a guest blogger, and I explained my philosophy about why we should keep writing. No matter what! Here's the link to the post:
https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/2...
https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/2...
Christina Ryan Claypool
Dear Alice,
First, please let me apologize for not answering your statement/question earlier. Somehow, I overlooked it. Thank you so much for your interest in "Secrets of the Pastor's Wife: A Novel." I have such an admiration for the role of a pastor's wife. The fact you and your husband have now retired from ministry means you spent many years in this capacity.
One of the reasons the main character in my book is a pastor's wife is that I have witnessed firsthand how incredibly difficult it can be for a minister's spouse to have close friends they can trust with their personal problems. If we are honest, everyone has challenges in this life and needs supportive friendships. Thank you for your interest and again please accept my apologies for not thanking you sooner. God bless you, Alice
First, please let me apologize for not answering your statement/question earlier. Somehow, I overlooked it. Thank you so much for your interest in "Secrets of the Pastor's Wife: A Novel." I have such an admiration for the role of a pastor's wife. The fact you and your husband have now retired from ministry means you spent many years in this capacity.
One of the reasons the main character in my book is a pastor's wife is that I have witnessed firsthand how incredibly difficult it can be for a minister's spouse to have close friends they can trust with their personal problems. If we are honest, everyone has challenges in this life and needs supportive friendships. Thank you for your interest and again please accept my apologies for not thanking you sooner. God bless you, Alice
Christina Ryan Claypool
Thanks so much for your interest in the novel, "Secrets of the Pastor's Wife," Carol. It is currently in the final publishing stage. It will be available Fall 2018, although there isn't an exact date. I pray God richly blesses your writing projects, too! Again, I greatly appreciate your interest.
Christina Ryan Claypool
In my novel "Secrets of a Pastors' Wife," I specifically chose to write about a fictional pastor's wife as the main character, because of the misleading stereotype that can exist for this supportive ministry role. I empathize with the difficulty those in ministry in-general can have when trying to find a confidential friend to share their current issues or even past heartbreak. Since often, we place ministerial families under a microscopic lens of scrutiny, and have the unrealistic expectation their lives should be perfect. Quite frequently, the needs and even existence of a pastor's wife can be overlooked or at least overshadowed, especially if her husband is an in-demand dynamic leader.
Plus, during my years working in Christian broadcasting, I was asked to host a TV special, where pastors' wives shared about their lives. One ministerial spouse was concerned about me interviewing her, apprehensive over my understanding of her situation, so she asked what my husband did.
"He's a public school administrator," I answered nervously.
Instantly, she visibly relaxed, smiled a wide smile, and teasingly joked, "Oh, that's the same thing."
This wise pastor's wife understood that whenever you are married to a man in any kind of leadership, it can be isolating and most challenging to find a a trustworthy confidant, fearing you could jeopardize your mate's position simply by being a flawed human being. And if we are truthful, aren't we all flawed?
I hope this answers your question, Patricia. I also pray you can somehow sense my deep respect for the sacrificial call of being a pastor's wife. My desire is for this novel to be a comfort and encouragement to the precious women married to ministers, and for it to provide emotional healing for all hurting women. God bless your ministry, and thank you for your question.
Plus, during my years working in Christian broadcasting, I was asked to host a TV special, where pastors' wives shared about their lives. One ministerial spouse was concerned about me interviewing her, apprehensive over my understanding of her situation, so she asked what my husband did.
"He's a public school administrator," I answered nervously.
Instantly, she visibly relaxed, smiled a wide smile, and teasingly joked, "Oh, that's the same thing."
This wise pastor's wife understood that whenever you are married to a man in any kind of leadership, it can be isolating and most challenging to find a a trustworthy confidant, fearing you could jeopardize your mate's position simply by being a flawed human being. And if we are truthful, aren't we all flawed?
I hope this answers your question, Patricia. I also pray you can somehow sense my deep respect for the sacrificial call of being a pastor's wife. My desire is for this novel to be a comfort and encouragement to the precious women married to ministers, and for it to provide emotional healing for all hurting women. God bless your ministry, and thank you for your question.
Christina Ryan Claypool
My soon-to-be-released novel, "Secrets of the Pastor's Wife," is not only an entertaining read, but hopefully it will provide the possibility of greater emotional and spiritual healing for the reader. Because if we are honest, most of us have secrets, and secrets can make you sick without the healing touch of God's grace.
About Secrets of the Pastor's Wife from the back cover:
Wherever Cassandra Martin goes, her secrets go with her. And hiding her past is beginning to take a toll. Cassie lives in a small white parsonage in the village of Maple Grove. For 15 years, the beautiful and talented artist has appeared to be the perfect wife for Rev. John Martin, the new pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church.
The couple has moved frequently, and Pastor John is too busy with other people’s problems to notice Cassie’s distress. She has no close friends to confide in, fearing her secrets could jeopardize her husband’s position.
That’s until Maple Grove coffee shop owner Katherine “Katie” Montague embraces Cassie as if she were the daughter she never had. Sensing her pastor’s wife is haunted by something tragic, the caring widow begins praying for her. Will Cassie trust Katie with the pain of her past or will she let the secrets destroy her?
Gail, as for where I live, I am from the cornfields of Ohio, and have spent my entire life moving around my home state for my school administrator husband's position.
God bless you, and thanks so much for your interest. Please accept my apologies for taking so long to answer. Life has a way of moving too fast for all of us.
About Secrets of the Pastor's Wife from the back cover:
Wherever Cassandra Martin goes, her secrets go with her. And hiding her past is beginning to take a toll. Cassie lives in a small white parsonage in the village of Maple Grove. For 15 years, the beautiful and talented artist has appeared to be the perfect wife for Rev. John Martin, the new pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church.
The couple has moved frequently, and Pastor John is too busy with other people’s problems to notice Cassie’s distress. She has no close friends to confide in, fearing her secrets could jeopardize her husband’s position.
That’s until Maple Grove coffee shop owner Katherine “Katie” Montague embraces Cassie as if she were the daughter she never had. Sensing her pastor’s wife is haunted by something tragic, the caring widow begins praying for her. Will Cassie trust Katie with the pain of her past or will she let the secrets destroy her?
Gail, as for where I live, I am from the cornfields of Ohio, and have spent my entire life moving around my home state for my school administrator husband's position.
God bless you, and thanks so much for your interest. Please accept my apologies for taking so long to answer. Life has a way of moving too fast for all of us.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more