E.V. Sparrow: Spotlight on Muldoon’s Misfortunes & a Giveaway
Check out E.V. Sparrow’s spotlight on Muldoon’s Misfortunes, her recent Historical Fiction release. Every US resident who leaves a comment below by August 27 will be entered for a chance to win a paperback of E.V.’s book!
Take it away, E.V.!
Are you wondering how I chose my pen name? My daughter created it. I was single when I began my writing life as a short story writer and wanted to be incognito because my stories were based on true events. The funny thing is, now my married name matches part of my pen name! God knew it would. Hopeful choice, right?
That describes me—a hopeful person. All my short stories, books, and my blog have the theme of Encounter God’s Unexpected Presence.
Muldoon’s Misfortunes is Book One in the Historical Fiction Genre, Those Resilient Muldoons Series. The main character lost everything. He clings to hope. His life takes many twists because of his own choices. His story reveals how he goes full circle in a long route back to his faith.
My father’s father and his family inspired the characters in the 3-book series, including the novella I self-published in 2023 as a prelude to the series.
The most difficult character to write was Mick’s wife, Molly. I have a few photos of her. Those helped me to imagine her, but her personality and life-experience came down to two sentences my grandfather said about her. All the rest was what I imagined might lead her to her life choices.
Mick Muldoon’s parents gave him the rights to the family farm in Ireland because they wanted their son with physical challenges to have the only way to earn a living. English law did not allow more than one Catholic child to own or inherit any Irish land. Farms were owned and rented by English landlords to tenant farmers. Mick lives in an era with little medical care, and typhus destroyed his dream of farming and raising a family. One of his sisters offers him new hopes of immigration to America and a better life there.
*In my Author Notes at the back of the book, I list what is true, and fictionalized. This should benefit my readers’ enjoyment of the story.
These stories contain some true events and timelines. I include fictionalized details with messy characters. This means my books are edgy, gritty, and a tough reality for many.
Love and relationships are paramount to my characters. Readers will find them strong in misplaced hopes, what they mistakenly turn to for strength, misunderstanding their value to God, and what it takes for them to turn to Him. They take frustrating and circuitous routes to discover the right path to faith, hope, and love.
Those are three great stabilizers in our spiritual journey with Christ. Those three will remain when all else is gone. I focus on what happens in a person’s life when one or more of these is weak.
I write about flawed people raised in the church yet doubting God’s personal love for them and how this influences their life’s choices. When we doubt God sees everything we do or cares about the choices we make, He reveals Himself and His love in unexpected ways.
Thanks so much for sharing, E.V. Your book sounds intriguing, and your characters seem relatable to us in many ways. I pray God will bless you as you continue to write for His glory!
Every US resident who comments on @evSparrow’s spotlight post by August 27 will be entered for a chance to win a paperback of #MuldoonsMisfortunes. #giveaway
TweetJoin the conversation. Are you a Historical Fiction fan? Does E.V.’s book sound like one you’d like to read? What questions or comments do you have for her?
Comment below by August 27 for a chance to win a paperback of Muldoon’s Misfortunes. (US residents only)
Muldoon’s Misfortunes by E.V. Sparrow
Click the book cover for purchase link
A cursed widower forsakes his faith to ensure his hope.
On a verdant island beset by poverty and death, Mick Muldoon dares to escape his misfortunes. Is working a farm and raising a family such an impossible thing to ask? Wasn’t God supposed to answer prayers—not turn a deaf ear?
After surviving the treacherous voyage to America, Mick discovers the rumors of ample opportunity aren’t exactly true. His defective body hampers employment and keeps him dependent upon his peculiar sister. However, an unexpected invitation to move to the heartland guarantees his dreams.
Mick’s own dreadful choices hamper his hopes when he accepts work as a widow’s farmhand. Unbeknownst to him, there’s deception afoot. Mick’s inattention to love causes catastrophe as single fatherhood cruelly shatters his family. Will God miraculously hear his prayers this time?
In Book 1 of Those Resilient Muldoons series, this misguided, wayward widower encounters God’s unexpected presence.
Connect with E.V.: Website / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn / Amazon / Newsletter / Twitter / Goodreads
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If you missed Penny Frost McGinnis’s spotlight last week, 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 represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
27 Comments
Deena Adams
Congratulations, Lexi, you’re the winner of E.V.’s book! Check your email for instructions.
E.V. Sparrow
Yay for Lexi! I’ll be contacting you for the format of your choice. Thank you, Deena, and all the commenters for making this a welcoming place to connect. 🙂
Lynn Moore
E.V.
I love your writing goal…. to have readers “Encounter God’s Unexpected Presence!” Keep on writing!
Deena Adams
Thanks for chiming in, Lynn!
E.V. Sparrow
It’s nice to meet you here, and thanks for commenting! 🙂
E.V. Sparrow
Thanks Lynn! It’s a theme in my own life, and my characters always end up encountering God’s unexpected presence in the story. I love that part.
Lexi Henegar
This sounds like such a good read. I love how faith elements seem to be woven throughout the story as the character experiences tragedy several times. Have you had the opportunity to travel to the places that you include in your stories?
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for your comments, Lexi! I love stories with strong faith elements.
E.V. Sparrow
Sorry for the delay, I am on vacation! Not overseas this time. And yes, I’ve been to Ireland and the locations three times. Most of my short stories were from my travels.
Steven Rogers
Wow this book sounds interesting! And the cover really draws me in.
Deena Adams
Thanks for reading and commenting, Steven!
E.V. Sparrow
Glad it interests you! I tried to reply to you earlier and couldn’t. Thanks for connecting here and it’s nice to meet you.
Beverly Smith
Sounds interesting. I love Ireland and enjoy reading stories set on the Emerald Isle.
Deena Adams
Hi, Beverly. Have you visited Ireland? I bet it’s beautiful.
E.V. Sparrow
I love Ireland as well. I’ve been three times, and would go again tomorrow. Both sides of my family have Irish emigrants.
Vickie Waters
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the “what is true and what is fictional” section in the back of a book. That’s intriguing to me. I would not read it BEFORE I read the book as I think that might spoil it, but would look forward to reading it AFTER I’ve finished the book. I like your publishing name, no matter how you got it!
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Vickie!
E.V. Sparrow
Hi Vickie, sorry for the delay with my response. I chose to add that to this book since so much of it is based upon my great grandfather’s life. Beta readers, critiquers, and others always asked what was true in it. I think it’s best to read it afterward as well. Ha!
Teresa Bass
You have peaked my interest in your book and would love to read it.
Deena Adams
Thanks for reading E.V.’s spotlight and commenting, Teresa!
E.V. Sparrow
Thank you! I really hope you have a chance to read it and give me your feedback. The Irish had a pretty tough time for centuries, and so many immigrated to the USA, Canada, and Australia. They are an interesting culture.
E.V. Sparrow
Hi Teresa, I hope you read it and enjoy Mick’s story. It was a tough situation for the Irish immigrants.
Priscilla Bettis
Congratulations, E.V., on the recent release of Muldoon’s Misfortunes!
E.V. Sparrow
Hi Priscilla, and thank you for cheering me on!
Caryl Kane
Hello Deena and E.V.
Hope is so precious! I’m looking forward to meeting the Muldoon’s.
Have a fabulous week.
Deena Adams
Thank you, Caryl! You too!
E.V. Sparrow
Hi Caryl, sorry I didn’t respond sooner. It’s great to meet you. I hope you are able to read the book, and give me some feedback.