About the Book
Book: The Necessity of Kindness (The Rose Collection Book 7. It can be read as a stand alone.)
Author: Marbeth Skwarczynski
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Release date: October 21, 2024
“Be ye kind” is a simple command, so why is it so hard for people to follow?
When the Lord opened the door for Denise’s husband, Topher, to Pastor the beleaguered Rhodes Baptist Church, she agreed to return to their hometown. Opening a bakery, supporting Topher in his ministry, and volunteering at Sylvie’s school aren’t nearly as challenging as trying to dismantle the harmful teachings that have taken over the church. Ideas masquerading as ‘biblical truth’ and ‘traditional Christianity’ resulted in spiritual bullying and a dwindling congregation. Denise is determined to help Topher guide the church toward the love and kindness of Christ.
Sixteen-year-old Sylvie is angry at being ripped away from the only home she’s known—and from her church, friends, and boyfriend, Owen. She pretends that moving to Rhodes is an adventure and admits she’s looking forward to attending a “real” school and making new friends. She’ll help her parents with their church and work at her mom’s bakery, but this isn’t the life Sylvie wants. Everything is different now, and it isn’t fair.
Sometimes, it feels like the bullies are winning.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Though born on the east coast, I spent most of my life in the American Southwest, eventually settling in California where my husband and I raised two sons. Later we welcomed two fantastic daughters-in-law and four grandchildren into our family. After teaching history and literature for eighteen years, I resigned to write full-time. That new career move was paired with a physical move to beautiful Nevada, where I continue to write happily.
My preferred genre is Christian contemporary fiction. I keep my characters grounded in the real world and the real problems that Bible believers face today. While they grow, learn, and find possible solutions to their issues, my characters must also deal with the detritus of the past. Living well today doesn’t mean that yesterday is erased. I write what I know, either first-hand or through close observation, injecting the joy, happiness, and humor that comes with spiritual freedom and love.
More from Marbeth
No one warns you that some bullies grow up to be—bullies.
But some people go from victim to victorious. They stand up for others, leading them away from preferences used to bully others into submission and toward the freedom of God’s love.
Interview with the Author
- What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I wish I had a really cool answer to this, but the closest I can come to claiming “literary pilgrimage” is when I visited Notre Dame. I love Victor Hugo’s book, but I can’t say I felt transported to the novel when I stepped into the cathedral. Instead, I was in awe of the architecture and the feeling of peace.
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Tennant of Wildfell Hall blows me away. Anne Bronte’s work is beautifully written, and she tackles the issues of marital abuse, lack of women’s protection under the law, and alcohol addiction straight on. As far as I’m concerned, she wrote contemporary Christian fiction for her day. The book is brilliant; I wish more people would read and discuss it.
- How do you select the names of your characters?
I’ve used everything from baby name lists to IMDb lists of characters and actors from favorite shows. My most enjoyable name selection was when I wrote Wise and Mighty. All the new characters shared their names with pop musicians—except for a podcaster who shared Madam Curie’s Polish maiden name.
- What was your hardest scene to write?
Of all time, it was when I discovered Michael Bernard’s childhood trauma in Reinvention. I knew the story was leading up to something, but every time I allowed Michael to reveal what he’d gone through, he’d have an anxiety attack (or a fire would break out). It took days for him to finally tell his story. When he finally did, it broke my heart.
The hardest scene to write in my current book, The Necessity of Kindness, is probably when Denise Stade parks outside her childhood home and reflects on how beautiful it looks. It has become the home she’s always wanted, but as a teen, every attempt she made to help her parents around the house was rebuffed as not good enough or a waste of time. A lot of my old childhood memories resurfaced while writing her scene.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
I grew up rereading The Little House series, so it’s at the top of the list. A close second would be Old Yeller. It’s gritty, hilarious. and gut-wrenching all at once.
- If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
The one thing I was discouraged from doing: journaling. I had a journal when I was in 6th grade (after I read Harriet the Spy), but my parents disapproved. I was warned repeatedly not to write anything I wouldn’t want someone else to read (we had no expectation of privacy in our home). Still, anything I wrote that was personal or might have a negative aspect was considered “inappropriate.” If I could go back, I would have written anyway, keeping my journal as a writer’s notebook rather than anything containing intimate thoughts.
On the upside, my experience with journaling was included in book 3 of The Rose Collection, No Longer Invisible.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
Sometimes, I have an idea of what topic I’d like to pursue in the novel, but usually, the characters come first, and they let me know what topics are important to them.
- Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
I love Catherine Brusk’s Finding Faith series and Forgiving St. Nick. She’s not afraid to mix romance with a bit of grit as her characters stand up against church/spiritual abuse.
- What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love board and card games. My husband and sister are as competitive as I am, so we always have a good time when we play together. I’m also a movie fan and enjoy long-form storytelling in television series. In the summer, I love to swim.
While I watch podcasts and documentaries, I do so more for research than entertainment. I consider them part of my writing.
- If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be, and what would you cook?
I’d love to invite a young Anne Bronte to the seaside for a delicious dinner of vegetarian lasagna. I’ve always felt bad for Anne. I wonder what she could have accomplished with just a bit of encouragement and kindness.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 7
Vicky Sluiter, February 8 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 9 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 9
Simple Harvest Reads, February 10 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11
For the Love of Literature, February 12 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, February 13
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 14 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 15
Blossoms and Blessings, February 16 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, February 17 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, February 18 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 18
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 19
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 20 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Marbeth is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.