Looking Out The Window: Julie Cosgrove Talks About The Third Book In Her Relatively Seeking Mysteries, Leaf Me Alone. Gives Away An E-Book

A Warm Welcome to Julie Cosgrove

Julie will give away an e-Book of Leaf Me Alone. To enter to win leave a comment and an email address below.

Julie Shares a devotional with us.

A New Leaf

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  1 Corinthians 3:7

Springtime is a time for new things to emerge.

I had a sad, scrawny little plant I just could not throw out despite the fact it only had to leaves on it. The rest had all died. So, I nurtured it, fed it and, yes, I talked to it.

I'm pleased to announce the plant has grown three new, beautiful, dark green, healthy leaves. The leaves started as a small "bump" and when I saw them, I caught my breath in my throat. Could it be? After almost a year of nothing at all…?

For the past few weeks, I have been watching the leaves emerge daily with anticipation.  Every morning I'd curl up on my couch, hug my coffee cup, and determine how much my plant had "grown" overnight.

Yes! Within another few days, it was confirmed. Then the stalks began to get longer and longer. Soon, a tightly-wound leaf began to stretch from the tip of each stem and slowly unfurl. It only took a few days before the newly-opened light green leaves darkened as the sun shined on them, spurring the chlorophyll to flow.

If I can root (no pun intended) for three little leaves growing, how much more does God get excited to see growth in me?  Understand that I mean spiritual growth, not my waistline and hips. I can almost envision Him smiling and encouraging me. It made me realize anew that any growth is to be celebrated. It means progress, no matter how slow.

That thought led to another. How impatient am I in watching for growth in others? Do I become frustrated with them, assuming they are on my timetable and are not putting out the effort they should in order to become more Christ-like? Do I scoff and judge their faith walk? Or do I celebrate whatever tiny revelation I detect in their thoughts or behavior?

If I can celebrate a new leaf growing on a scrawny plant, how much more should I acknowledge the work God is doing in those I know...and in me as well?

Thank you, Julie. Now, tell us about your latest book.

 Leaf Me Alone is the third book in the Relatively Seeking Mysteries. The series involve three choir friends. Each book basically “stars” one of the three, though all are featured in the three books.

In this book, the three ladies’ mentor and Bible study teacher, Ms. Perkins asks Shannon and her husband, Jayden, to track down her nephew she has not had contact with in four decades. Entering hospice, she wants to see him one more time and make amends. He was last known to live in Florida and Jayden travels there often as a long hauler. So, Shannon head out to meet Jayden and trace down the nephew.

In the meantime, Shannon’s friends begin to suspect someone is ushering these hospice patients toward heaven a little too quickly. But can they prove it before it’s Ms. Perkins’ turn to reach the pearly gates?

What inspired you to write this particular book?  

I wanted to have a couple as sleuth partners, and Shannon is the only married one of the three. I also wanted to show how a marriage centered in faith can be strong, even through life’s challenges. Also, writing about two mysteries unfolding simultaneously was challenging but fun.

What themes do you write about?  

I write suspense and mystery, but I want the reader to learn something about a social issue or human plight as well. Therefore, I lead my main characters through that as the plot unfolds, allowing the reader to experience God’s mercy and grace in the process.

Does your faith affect your writing? If so, how? 

Absolutely my faith affects my writing. I cannot write anything that has foul language or graphic sexual behavior in it. I don’t read or watch things that do either.

Murder mysteries, by nature, do contain some violence, but I leave out the blood and guts and focus on solving the crime. I also pray as I write, and I ask a few faithful others to pray for me. I want my characters to live out their faith in a realistic, human way so others can relate to them, and hopefully God will use that to His glory in their lives.

What are you working on right now? 

I am helping a psychotherapist I know write a book on grief recovery. In between my own novel writing, I edit and help other Christians bring their books to fruition.

I am also a digital missionary with Power to Change. I am the editor over 30 volunteer writers who each produce one devotional a month for a world-wide audience of about 25,000 readers a day. Our purpose is to discuss issues that surface once someone’s faith collides with real life. Our devotionals and articles are being translated into several languages. You can find the devotionals on TheLife.com or The Life Facebook page.

We encourage the readers to pursue a one-on-one mentorship with one of our online volunteers. Because our audience is growing, we need more people who would be willing to volunteer a few hours each week online in this ministry after a thorough training and vetting period. Anyone can contact me here for more information.

What is the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you? 

Honestly, it was when the Mexican dinner I had enjoyed the night before decided to announce itself in front of my boss as I waited for him to sign some papers. It came out of nowhere. I was devastated. Sweet man that he was, he never reacted or said anything, which made me admire him even more. Later when I calmed down enough to verbally apologize, he side-hugged me and said it had happened to him once as well. God used him to help me realize we all inadvertently goof up and that’s okay. His attitude was one of the reasons I worked for him and his wife for fifteen years.

Great boss!

Buy Leaf Me Alone on Amazon

Bio: Julie is a widow who lives in Texas and enjoys word games, mysteries, and cats. She writes Christian women's fiction as well as devotionals. Visit her     website and her blog Where Did You Find God Today?

Learn more about Julie and her books on her Website and her blog Where Did You Find God Today?.