About the Book
Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)
Author: Pam Green
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Release date: October 15, 2024
When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.
Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.
Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.
Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.
More from Pam
“Sully Parkway? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of the Church on the Parkway either. This area is changing so fast nobody can keep up!”
Life in the Virginia suburbs outside Washington, DC reflects the fast pace of our nation’s capital, and I know I’ve fooled some residents by sticking Sully Parkway and its non-denominational megachurch somewhere—and everywhere—in the area.
Welcome to my world! Sully Parkway is anywhere I want it to be!
You’ll have no difficulty recognizing the Church on the Parkway, or COP. Maybe it’s your church, with all its shortcomings, victories, quirky characters, inspiring leaders—and comfort dogs?!
Yes, COP takes its outreach responsibilities seriously, and they started a comfort dog ministry!
What Christian hasn’t struggled in situations where words fail to soothe a hurting soul? Real life comfort dogs, such as the 100-plus golden retrievers deployed by the Lutheran Church Charities, are ambassadors of Christ’s love in a range of challenging situations, from the minor anxiety of learning to read aloud to the unthinkable tragedy of a school shooting, and everything in between.
I fell in love with these sweet creatures of God who know intuitively how to reach out to hurting humans. Find out how Hope, COP’s golden retriever puppy, grows into her mission.
You’ll discover that some of the hope she brings is completely unexpected!
Interview with the Author
- How do you select the names of your characters?
I don’t have a particular method for selecting character names. The name I had the most fun playing with was Ollie Feuille of The Jesus Car. My “inner French teacher” turned writer had so much fun playing with all the different ways his name could be mispronounced. Other names come from highway signs (Lansdowne and Bradenton) and lists of names popular in a particular decade.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
As a child, one of my favorite authors was Maud Hart Lovelace, who wrote the Betsy-Tacy series. I loved Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, who were based on the author’s life. I even wrote letters to them in care of the publisher. “Tib” wrote back to me and sent me a picture of her wearing her famous accordion pleated dress.
- If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I’m a good listener, but as an introvert, I crave deep conversations with like-minded people. My college roommate, who was also an introvert, outdid me in asking good questions of everyone she met. If I could have a do-over, I’d learn to reach out more and ask others about themselves.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
I’m what they sometimes call an “intuitive writer.” Hope, the comfort dog, came first in Unexpected Hope.I planted her at the Church on the Parkway, with a ready-made congregation from a previous series. The Jesus Car and its premise came first in that book, and Ollie Feuille and Holly Bush followed close behind.
- What do you like to do when you are not writing? I enjoy the company of three very spoiled pets: Angie, my rescue dog, and Pixie and Eden, my rescue kitties. I love to read, of course. I also participate in and occasionally lead Bible studies at my church and teach English to international students once a week. I enjoy getting together with local writers and other friends. Listening to music–classical at home and contemporary Christian in the car–helps improve my mental soundtrack. I like to cook, and since I don’t have anyone to feed but myself, I invite people for holiday meals. I spend much more time reading cookbooks than cooking, though!
Blog Stops
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 15
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 16
Vicky Sluiter, May 17
Life on Chickadee Lane, May 18
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 19
Stories By Gina, May 20 (Author Interview)
Roads to Everywhere, May 20
For Him and My Family, May 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 22
Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, May 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25
Holly’s Book Corner, May 26
Texas Book-aholic, May 27
Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, May 28
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Pam is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, and a surprise!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.