By Janet W. Ferguson
Good Reads from Mississippi Christian Fiction Authors
I grew up in Mississippi, graduated from Ole Miss, and make my home in the Reservoir area near Jackson. An avid reader, I worked as a librarian at Northwest Rankin High School. My husband and I have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow us to share their space.
My first four novels released this year, three of them set in Oxford, Mississippi. The debut novel of my Southern Hearts Series is Leaving Oxford.
Four years ago, when I had a completed Christian fiction manuscript and no clue what to do with it, I became connected with a group called American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). I was thrilled to meet and interact with other Mississippi Christian fiction authors, and I would love to introduce them to you!
Lorraine Beatty is a multi-published best-selling author of over fifteen inspirational books. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, she now calls Mississippi home. She’s the proud grandmother of five and loves to spend time with them when not writing. She and her husband Joe love to travel.
A Mom for Christmas is the latest in her Love Inspired Home to Dover series.
Patricia Bradley, winner of the 2016 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in Suspense, lives in North Mississippi with her rescue kitty, Suzy. Her books include the romantic suspense Logan Point Series and sweet romances with Harlequin Heartwarming.
Coming in January is her newest release, Justice Delayed, a Memphis Cold Case Novel.
Jacqueline Freeman Wheelock is a multi-published author whose works range from a short story in Christmas Stories From Mississippi, published by University Press of Mississippi, to a memoir about growing up during and after integration published by McFarland & Co.
She and her husband Donald reside in Madison, Mississippi, and have two adult children and one beloved granddaughter.
An avid reader and former high school and college English teacher, her first novel, A Most Precious Gift, debuted in 2014 via Mantle Rock Publishers.
Virginia Vaughan was born and raised in Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those borders. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She now writes inspirational romantic suspense for Love Inspired Suspense.
Her current release, Mistletoe Reunion Threat, is Book 4 in her Rangers Under Fire series.
“Simply put, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the encouragement and guidance given to me by my fellow Christian writers. Writing is hard work and writing to bring glory to God is even harder. Many of us consider what we do as much a ministry as a job and like any ministry, we need fellow believers around to hold us accountable. After all, every Christian writer I know dreams that their book will one day be picked up and read by someone who’s lost and will ultimately point their way to Jesus.”
Stephenia H. McGee is fascinated with hoop skirts, Greek revival homes, quirky Southern sayings, and homegrown recipes. She sips sweet tea on the front porch of her home in Mississippi where she writes stirring historical novels of faith and redemption set in the Deep South.
Both of her current series, Ironwood Plantation Family Saga and The Liberator Series, are set in historic Mississippi mansions.
Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose novels have won awards in both the Christian and crossover markets. Her debut novel, Into the Free, focused on Depression-era Mississippi.
Her fourth novel, Perennials, will be set in Oxford, where she has lived for twelve years. It is scheduled to release Fall 2017 by HarperCollins/TNZ.
Pam Hillman, a CBA Bestselling author, was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove an Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of.
Diane T. Ashley, a “town girl” from central Mississippi, has written two novellas and co-written nine historical novels. All but one of her books are set in the Deep South during pivotal times in American history and contain characters who resonate with today’s readers.
My novella “An Accidental Christmas” can be found in A Biltmore Christmas. It’s my favorite story—except for the one I’m working on now.
