Today I’m excited for author Susan Miura to share about her new Christian YA novel – Healer. For more information about this intriguing book and a chance to win some great prizes, feel free to stop by her Facebook Launch Party tomorrow night – January 31st. Welcome Susan!
The following guest post was written by author Susan Miura, whose new young adult novel, HEALER, was just released in January by Vinspire Publishing. Susan is a public relations professional living in Schaumburg, IL (Chicago area), as well as a member of the ACFW and SCBWI.
Want to make the world a better place? I think many people would love to play a role in that, but just don’t know how. It’s overwhelming when you consider the horrific issues of starvation, oppression, war, and human trafficking prevalent in many countries. And our own USA is certainly not immune. The daunting global picture sometimes causes people to give up before they start. But making the world a better place can mean making it better for ONE person, ONE family…maybe even ONE village. And just about anyone can do that because we all have something we can share: a skill, a talent, a passion, expertise, time, money, an encouraging word or note, a plate of cookies.
This is one of the take-aways I hope my new young adult novel, Healer, will convey. We don’t have to possess an incredible God-given power like my main character, Shilo Giannelli, we just have to use whatever God gave us and trust He’ll take it from there. Going outside your comfort zone this way may lead you down crazy, unanticipated paths, but again, that’s where trust enters the picture. Who knows where you might land, who you might meet, what you might accomplish? Here’s what happened to Shilo:
In Healer, 17-year-old Shilo is going to high school, playing soccer, hanging out with friends and loving every minute she spends with her boyfriend, Kenji. But hovering just below the surface of her average existence lays an amazing spiritual power. Late one night, her world erupts with the revelation that, like her great-grandmother, she has The Gift. But the power to heal isn’t something she can share with the soccer team, her genius little sister, or Kenji.
Definitely not Kenji.
Deep beneath Misty Morning’s tough façade is a lifetime of abandonment, foster homes and broken dreams. At fifteen, she ran away from a group home and into the arms of Jake. By the time she discovered he was violent, Misty was pregnant with Tyler. When Jake’s temper lands Tyler in the hospital, Misty’s fragile world shatters.
When Shilo prays for Tyler, the miracle that follows leaves doctors speechless and Misty deliriously happy…and profoundly confused. Something happened during that prayer. Warmth and peace. A presence she couldn’t explain. And Tyler…is fine. Healed. But it isn’t long before Shilo’s life begins to unravel. Her romance is strained, Misty’s life is in danger, and her parents don’t want her using The Gift. But she will fulfill her destiny as a healer, no matter the cost.
Even if it costs her Kenji.
It will take a miracle for these unlikely friends to elude a gang bent on revenge, keep The Gift a secret, trust God in extraordinary circumstances, and hold on to the people they love.
If you read Healer, you’ll see that Shilo makes a choice that turns her world inside out, but wouldn’t have it any other way. And as the scars around Misty’s heart begin to fade, she too begins to consider what she might offer the world, particularly in the arena of human trafficking. But enough heavy stuff – Healer also has plenty of action, suspense, a touch of humor, drama, a sprinkling of tears, and, I hope…a plot that will keep you captivated.
Many thanks to Leslea Wahl for inviting me as a guest today!
