I'm excited to let you know I have a new book coming soon December 16, 2021! I've had so much fun researching marine biology for this story. I can't wait to see what you think! Here's a little about the book!
                                             Healing Skye
People can’t be trusted.
Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s suicide, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start?

Charter fishing pays the bills for widower Pete Thompson and his little girl, but like his father, a pastor, Pete can’t help but fish for men. Only, after growing up under constant scrutiny as a preacher’s kid, Pete’s ways are a bit more unconventional. And the bulk of his life revolves around raising his precious daughter.

When he witnesses the car wreck of a new marine biologist on the island, it doesn’t take a genius to see that more than just her physical pain needs tending. Pete feels called to help Skye find true healing, but he’s navigating dangerous waters. And he’s not at all sure he’ll walk away unscathed.

Special preorder price until December 16th! Order now on Amazon and other eBook sites.

Hey friends!
I have one more short story I'd written a while back called Heart Supplement. I thought I would send it to you for fun!  Also, if you're near Vicksburg, Mississippi, tomorrow, I'll be signing my novels at Lorelei Books. The address is 1103 Washington Street.

Heart Supplement

Rachel never expected to be a widow at fifty. Now her friends had talked her into selling health supplements and attending this convention in Atlanta. The new business gave her activities to fill the empty evening hours, but spending the night in a fancy hotel room alone seemed strange. In the past, she’d only stayed in hotels with her husband and family. She sucked in a breath and pressed the elevator button to head down to the lobby. She could do this. The products were good, and she’d learn more about them this week, maybe get motivated to make more sales.

A ding brought her attention up to the lighted numbers. The doors slid open, and a man in a designer suit smiled. “Going down?”

“Yes. Thank you.” She took a step inside, but stopped. The man’s blue eyes looked familiar. It couldn’t be. “Are you—“

“Rachel?” The voice was warm and deep. The same voice she’d spent hours listening to on the phone in high school.

“Steve?” Rachel couldn’t stop a smile. Or the warmth filling her chest. How long had it been since she’d seen her first real boyfriend? She really needed to stop staring, but the years had been kind to him. A nice set of smile lines crinkled his eyes, and his dark blond hair held a few strands of gray, but they only made him more attractive somehow.

“I can’t believe it. I was thinking of you not long ago. Actually…I think of you often.”

Heat crept up Rachel’s cheeks, and she struggled with how to answer.

Steve cleared his throat and continued, “I heard you married, so I don’t want to get in trouble with your husband or anything.” His brows drew together above his arched nose. “Do you stay in touch with anyone from school?”

The elevator jerked to a stop at the bottom floor. She hadn’t even noticed it moving. When the doors opened, she took a few steps into the lobby, then paused. Should she tell him she was single? She hadn’t thought of dating yet. Of course, her friends had tried to set her up with a widower from the grief support group. “I’m on their social media page, but otherwise, I haven’t stayed in touch.”

She hadn’t seen Steve in the group and had been curious what had happened with him after his family moved two states away his last semester of school. They’d both been heartbroken, and neither of them could afford out-of-state tuition. Their long distance romance had finally dwindled during college. Though she’d been happily married, she had to admit, she’d wondered what happened to Steve. Was he healthy and content wherever he’d landed?

“I’ve avoided social media, but maybe I should join the rest of the world so I’ll know what’s going on.” His phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and pressed a button to end the call. “Seeing you is a bit of a shock. I haven’t even given you a hug or asked how you are.” He held open his arms.

Rachel took a cautious step closer and allowed him to wrap his arms around her. Somehow his embrace still felt warm and familiar after three decades, and she let herself melt into his shoulder. Tears burned behind her eyes. “I’m widowed.” The words blurted right out of her mouth. What an idiot he’d think she was.

His hold tightened, pulling her closer. “I’m sorry. When? How are you?”

“A year. I’m making it.” Sighing, she took a step back out of his arms. She smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her dress. “I don’t know why I said that. I’m sure you’re in a hurry. Are you in town for business?”

“I have a conference here this week. Software development. Totally boring unless you’re a computer geek like me.” Those blue eyes twinkled as he gave her a tender look. “I never married.” He shrugged and winked. “Never found a girl as sweet as my high school girlfriend.”

Rachel’s heart skittered at the compliment. “I’m here for a conference this week, too. Not software, but health supplement sales. It’s my new hobby since…”

“I understand.” Steve nodded toward the café in the lobby. “Can I buy you breakfast and catch up on the past thirty-plus years?”

“I think I’d like that.” She smiled. “It might take more than one breakfast to cover all that time.”

He returned a huge grin. “This week just became much more interesting than software or supplements. We may have to have breakfast every day…lunch and dinner, too.”
The End
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I hope that was fun!! How would you continue the story in your imagination? Email if you have some fun ideas! Also, let me know if I can pray for you, too.
By the way, my friend Jennifer has a free book I wanted to let you know about below. She's a great author, and super sweet person!
Blessings,
​Janet

Hi friends,
A few weeks ago, I forced my husband to go along on a research trip with me to Dauphin Island. (For some reason, my girlfriends enjoy these trips more, LOL!)
I scheduled to go on a excursion to go on the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Research Vessel! They have these excursions open for the public for about $30 a piece.
That morning we met at the Estuarium (their public aquarium). We boarded the ship nearby, and they took us out. As we traveled to waters the captain chose that were sheltered from the wind, not terribly far off the island, our marine educator talked to us about the history of the island and Mobile Bay. (You might read a bit of this when the novel comes out.)
One of the other helpers on the trip let out trawl nets as we sailed, then once we reached a good spot, they stopped and showed us the catch. The educator explained the various sea creatures allowing us to touch them. I'm a bit like a kid, so I had a blast! ​
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Y'all! It got so cold here in Mississippi and icy! We aren't used to it and could hardly stand it. Though we couldn't leave our house, we were blessed to have power, and we prayed for those who didn't. We did get a bit of cabin fever, I think :) 

My granddog thought it was all a giant slushy and enjoyed eating it. I tried to sled down the hill a couple of times on a plastic box lid. I survived!!

How about where you are? I hope all is well and you're ready for some spring reading! I joined some authors to create a group giveaway with Grand Prize: $500 Amazon gift card
1st place prize: 40+ books
If you're interested check it out here: https://promosimple.com/ps/10736/2nd-annual-hop-into-spring
Let me know how you're doing and if I can pray for you.
Blessings,
Janet

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New Year-New Book Club Choices

Hi friends,
If you’ve read my blog for long, you know I’ve been in a Christian fiction book club for a couple of decades! See last year’s novel picks here.
https://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/blog-under-the-southern-sun/archives/01-2020
Although Covid messed up our ability to meet in person, we were able to Zoom or Skype with several authors which was really fun! We met virtually with Tosca Lee, Amanda Dykes, Linda Thompson, Mesu Andrews. Each of these ladies were delightful!
This year’s list is as follows:
Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock
Rooms by James Rubart
Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
Lu by Beth Troy
Submerged by Dani Pettrey
The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings
Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse
All Manner of Things by Suzie Finkbeiner
A Single Light by Tosca Lee
What were your favorite books in 2020? What books are you looking forward to reading in 2021?
Can't wait to hear from you,
Janet
By the way! Here are a couple of fun promotions, one with book prizes to get you on the way to new reads!
https://books.bookfunnel.com/booked_for_valentines_day/ws4tfrdebv

​I hope you are staying well! So far, so good, here at the Ferguson house. Since For the Love of Joy is finished and about to release January 1, that means it's time to start the next book. I'm really excited to introduce a new setting in this story--Dauphin Island, Alabama. It's located just below Mobile, and you cross a three-mile bridge to get there or take a ferry from Fort Morgan. The island itself is only about thirteen-or-so miles wide. It's a quaint little Southern town---not a fancy place, but a sweet community. The island is also the location of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. They do fascinating marine biology research there. I had the opportunity to interview two of the marine biologist. I hope to include the work they are doing to save manatees and other marine mammals in the area. I've included a few of my hundreds of pics! 

The rays were my favorite at the estuarian! It looked ) y y like they were smiling and waving :) The sunsets and sunrises are amazing! Because the island is small, you can see both from the beach! I'm not a fisherman, but apparently there's great fishing. There aren't fancy resorts, but a variety of rentals and small hotels. Only a few restaurants are set up for business, but all I tried were great! The bakery in the picture is delicious! I had to break my diet to sample a few things!:) I definitely look forward to going back for more "research!" 

Star Rising is now on Audio here!! Another great narration by Connie Shabshab! They've probably given me a few codes to share.
I'd love to hear from you! What are your2021 plans? Prayer requests? Story setting ideas? Keep in touch!
Blessings in Him, Janet