Readers Have More Power Than They Realize – An Interview with Author Heidi Gray McGill
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Author Heidi Gray McGill as we chat about how readers have more power than they realize. You’ll also hear a bit about Heidi’s novels, including her latest release, Keeper of My Heart, Book 6 in her Discerning God’s Best series.
Heidi is offering a giveaway of her new book! US winner will receive a signed paperback OR an International winner will receive a $7 Amazon gift card.
Comment below by June 30 for a chance to win!
Readers Have More Power than They Think – an interview with Author Heidi Gray McGill. Visit #HopeFilledFiction & comment on the post by 6/30 for a chance to win Heidi’s #newrelease! #giveaway #historicalromance
TweetJoin the conversation. Did you know the power you have as a reader to help authors? Do you post reviews of the books you read? How would you answer Heidi’s question about what makes a book important to you and what elements keep you turning pages?
Comment below by June 30 for a chance to win Heidi’s newest release, Keeper of My Heart! Signed paperback for a US winner; $7 Amazon gift card for international.
Keeper of my Heart by Heidi Gray McGill
Click the image for the purchase link
She’s never met a man who could keep up. He’s never met a challenge he couldn’t solve. But when love and faith collide, will either of them surrender their hearts?
What happens when the very traits that kept you alive are the ones God asks you to lay down?
On the Missouri frontier, Cecelia Grace Trexler Shankel has learned to survive on her own—riding hard, shooting straight, and trusting no one but herself. She has no intention of changing that for any man.
James “Jimmy” Reeves is her opposite in every way. A brilliant but socially awkward pharmacist, he trusts formulas over people and precision over instinct. He has come west to learn practical medicine—not to be undone by a woman who refuses to be contained.
From the moment they meet, Cecelia and Jimmy clash. She calls him rigid and bookish. He finds her impossible to predict. But when a smallpox outbreak threatens the town, theory is no longer enough. Jimmy is forced into decisions that demand courage, faith, and a strength he is not sure he has.
As respect grows into something deeper, Cecelia begins to question the independence she has always relied on—and Jimmy discovers that some things cannot be solved, only surrendered.
In a world where independence means survival, can two people learn to trust God—and each other—with their hearts?
Heidi Gray McGill is a Selah Award finalist and five-time NEST Award-winning author of Christian historical and contemporary fiction. Her Discerning God’s Best series has earned over 3,500 five-star reviews on Amazon, where readers describe her work as “faith-filled fiction with flawed but lovable characters.” She began her writing journey in March 2020, after retirement, proving that God’s calling has no expiration date.
A sought-after encourager in the writing community, Heidi speaks and writes on the craft of storytelling, writing with biblical conviction, and reaching readers across generational and cultural divides. She is both independently and traditionally published, and she writes despite progressive vision loss, which has only sharpened her perspective on what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.
Connect with Heidi and receive a free prequel to her bestselling series at HeidiGrayMcGill.com.
Other ways to connect: YouTube / Heidi’s Books / Free Christmas Book Signup
Check out Heidi’s other books in the Discerning God’s Best series!
Christian Fiction. Relatable Characters. Life-changing Stories. Fusing Faith and Fiction™
Book One: Desire of My Heart
Book Two: With All My Heart
Companion Christmas Novella: Stitched On My Heart
Book Three: Matters of the Heart
Book Four: Healing of the Heart
Book Five: Written on My Heart
Companion Christmas Novella: A Place to Belong
Book Six: Keeper of My Heart
Book Seven: Coming soon
Please share Heidi’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her books!
If you missed Hope Toler Dougherty’s Zoom interview about her new release, Beach House Rescue, FIND IT HERE!
Deena Adams
As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is a multi-award-winning author, an active ACFW member, and a six-year ACFW Virginia board member. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
26 Comments
Cherie J
Through the years I have learned the value of being supportive of authors by writing reviews for the books I enjoyed reading. I also like to let others know about books I have read and enjoyed. Books I have loved reading have had wonderful character development so for me well developed characters is essential.
Deena Adams
I know every author appreciates your support and reviews, Cherie! Characters can definitely make or break a book for me too. Thanks for stopping by!
Kera bell
I haven’t read any of her books. I would like to read this one, but I would go in order of the series.
Deena Adams
I like reading series books in order, too, Kera. I hope you get to read Heidi’s. She’s a wonderful writer!
Cyndi Newlan
I enjoy books that explore real issues in life with an uplifting and hopeful ending. I leave reviews for all books I read or listen to. I know it’s important to promote a book by letting others know your thoughts.
Deena Adams
Thanks for joining the conversation, Cyndi. I totally agree with you about books exploring real life issues that point to hope. Those are my absolute favorite reads!
Deena Adams
Congratulations, Cyndi, you’re the winner of Heidi’s giveaway! I’ll send you an email with details on how to claim your prize. Thanks for engaging on the blog!
Cyndi Newlan
Thank you!
Diana Hardt
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Rebecca Velez
If I like a book, I’ll leave a 4- or 5-star rating. Sometimes I write a review, especially if I really liked the book, but it doesn’t have many reviews.
I like fiction that teaches me. This weekend I met an author who wrote two novels with deaf characters. She has a deaf family member and writes from experience. Although the genre isn’t my favorite, I will check out her books on Amazon.
Needing the answer to a question keeps me reading. It doesn’t take much. I was the girl whose mother would say, “Stop reading and go outside.”
Deena Adams
Hi, Rebecca. I also enjoy fiction that teaches me something. And I was the same kid who like to stay in my room and read. I still do! Thanks for joining the conversation!
Deena Adams
My pleasure, Diana!
Elly
I leave reviews for most of the books I read. LOVED the first book in this series! Looking forward to reading the rest.
Deena Adams
I know every author appreciates your reviews, Elly! Thanks so much for watching our interview and joining the conversation!
Elsie Kappler
Thank for letting me to know where to comment. Ido enjoy and am inspired by hope filled fiction books . My acronym for hope is h- He is our Helper and Healer,He is our offering , p -He is our peace, provider, and He gives us patience, e- He is our eternity and He is everlasting. I have read several western hope filled books.May the Lord bless us all and give us His hope and peace. Enjoy each day to its fullest. John 10:10b.
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful acrostic with us, Elsie! May the Lord bless you as well.
Linda Fast
The book sounds wonderful. Sometimes I struggle to find a book that bot and my 91 year old Mother can both read. Keeper of My Heart is a perfect fit for both of us. I live in Canada so my chance of winning the book is out. I have added the book to my Christmas “to buy list” as I enjoy giving books as gifts.
Deena Adams
Yes, all of Heidi’s books would be great for you, your mother, and anyone else who likes wholesome stories where Jesus is magnified, Linda. Thanks for watching and commenting on the interview!
Connie Porter Saunders
As a librarian, I often read reviews before adding a book to our collection. I know the importance of reviews and post reviews for almost every book I read.
Deena Adams
That’s great, Connie! Reviews are so important, so thank you!
SARAH TAYLOR
Thank you so much for sharing this post and this book sounds amazing adding to my TBR list
Deena Adams
Wonderful, Sarah! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Teresa A Moyer
Great interview 🙂 Not just about the book but sharing the importance of FB Algorithms and Amazon reviews. Readers 1000% are clueless about the importance of clicks, comments and writing reviews.
I struggeled geting reviews on my own book and the statements I heard over and over was “I don’t read books to disect them to write a book review” The industery needs to do better in teaching the general readers/public because they are truly clueless.
My own perspective on how anyone selling anything, especially books or corses, is to not sound like a scripted telemarketer pitch. Very few people have succeded in driving me to click a purchase link when the vulnerable pull on the heart strings post ends with their pitch (if this story touched you just click on the link below to sign up for, save your seat for, or any other item that is not a link to a book where the attention grabbing pre script came from.
There are not enough Christian fiction books out with the tough/tabboo themes and todays younger believers or Jesus seekers are wanting that. I hear too many times that Christian fiction is boring, dry, out of touch, too rosie/perfect endings etc. Publishers seriousally need to be more open to listening to what readers are looking for.
Anyway I will get off my writers/publishers soap box LOL.
Deena Adams
I never knew how important reviews are for authors before jumping into the writing world. I feel like I’m begging for reviews since my book launched in April. It’s tough out there. LOL. I think more Christian books are being published today with gritty topics. Our current culture values authenticity, so it’s important that we give them that in our stories. Thanks for watching and joining the conversation, Teresa!
BARBARA JEAN SCHULTZE
I work with horses and am intrigued by Heidi’s new book.
Deena Adams
I hope you get a chance to read it, Barbara!