MY REVIEW:

I have just finished reading “Every Waking Moment” and I honestly am unsure how to even review it – so many things come to mind. There are actually several separate stories in this novel that come together as a whole. Miriam Howard is the director of a retirement home who loves its residents and employees and has a real knack for knowing the best way to handle them. Unfortunately she has been asked to retire and her replacement seems to have little sympathy for the elderly or the employees. Treha is the custodian at the home but has a way with old people, especially those who have retreated into themselves. Her empathy has endeared her to everyone except the new director. Then there are Devin and Jonah, a talented documentary team who have run out of money but feel that they are on the verge of a real breakthrough. Little do they realize the impact they will make as a result of their time spent interviewing residents of Desert Gardens Retirement Home. Several of the characters have one question in common that many readers may also ask themselves – “What do I do with the circumstances life has dealt me?” Each of them decides how to deal with this question during the course of the book.

Treha is one of those people most people probably ignore – maybe because they do not know how to relate to those like her or because they are afraid. The elderly are also among those who may be overlooked as they become less able to care for themselves or to participate in a “normal” lifestyle. “Every Waking Moment” addresses these issues and more as just one aspect of a story that left me with much to deliberate. I particularly enjoyed Elsie and her much needed words of faith and encouragement. Du’Relle was a minor character but his acceptance of Treha sets an example for the rest of us.

Chris Fabry has a real talent for telling a story that will make an impact on his readers. In “Every Waking Moment” he has accomplished that and more. “Every Waking Moment” is a story that will touch your heart and hopefully change your life.

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This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.



ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every Waking Moment
Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman who has fallen through the cracks, much like many of the elderly people she works with at Desert Gardens Retirement Home. But Miriam Howard, director of the facility, sees her extraordinary gift and untapped potential. Treha is a whisperer of sorts, calling those who have slipped into dementia back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

When Treha’s and Miriam’s stories intertwine with a documentary team looking for stories of the elderly, Treha’s gift is uncovered, and the search begins for answers to the mysteries of her past. As their paths converge, each person is forced to face the same difficult question: What if this is as good as my life gets?

An uplifting, human tale of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift.

For more information CLICK HERE.

Read the first chapter of Every Waking Moment HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris FabryChris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’s novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Author Q & A – Chris Fabry on Every Waking Moment

1.  What was your inspiration for this book, Every Waking Moment?

The question at the center of this story is “If this is as good as it gets, am I okay with life?” I find this is a universal question that hits at the heart of our outlook on life and our belief in God. The other question it raises is this: If you could bring someone back from dementia or Alzheimer’s and have a conversation, what would you ask? What would you say to that person?

2.  Tell me about your main character Treha Langsam. Was this character based upon anyone in particular?

She was loosely based on my own children and what they’ve gone through the past five years. This is probably my most personal story to date. We were exposed to toxic mold. Most people think you can only get a rash or have respiratory damage, but it can attack the brain. Treha’s symptoms are similar to what I’ve seen in them and others who have been exposed.

3.  What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?

I love the fact that God doesn’t look at the exterior; he looks at the heart. As humans, we have a tendency to judge on first impressions, but we miss so much by doing that. Those who are disabled, those who have some kind of struggle in life, those who are older — all are lumped into a category, and this is such a disservice to them and us.

4.  How do you expect Treha’s story to resonate with your readers?

I think everyone feels a bit like Treha. She is the little engine that could, even if she isn’t given a chance. And it only takes one person giving someone else a chance. I’m hoping readers will give someone a chance — or maybe let someone else give them a chance.

5.  As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

I loved getting to know Treha better because she’s so mysterious to everyone around her. She’s also a bit scary. To crawl into her skin and walk around and see what she sees is a heartbreaking, life-affirming journey. I also liked the discovery that came with other characters who encounter Treha and seehow she changes their lives.

6.  What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers?

My hope is that this force of nature, Treha, would empower readers to believe the truth about themselves and others. In Christ, you are stronger than you think you are. With God, you can do anything he calls you to do.

7.  How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller?

Trying to tell a complex story in a simple way is always difficult, and people’s lives are hugely complex. Trying to uncover the truth about Treha — why she is the way she is and where she might be able to go from here — helped me as a human being as well as a writer.

8.  Your novels typically touch on a relevant and current topic in our culture. What topics do you weave into this novel?

One thread running deeply through this story is the reliance we have on drugs. It’s much easier to take a pill than to make a lifestyle change. And this is affecting individuals, families, and our culture. It also means a great deal of money to institutions, so in tackling this, I know I’m not going to make friends in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m grateful for drugs — my son wouldn’t be alive today without insulin. But every positive thing can have a negative side as well.

9.  What big questions will this novel get your reader thinking about?

What is your backstory? What is the worth of an individual? Old, young, disabled, unsuccessful . . . several characters are faced with questions of their own worth as well as how they treat others. I’ve always heard that your faith is tested by how you treat someone who can’t do anything for you. This story will get you thinking about some of those deep issues of the heart.

10.  How do you manage your time with such a full life, including a writing career, a radio career, and a large family?

Everyone has the same amount of time each day. We simply make choices about what we invest in. Hence, I spend less time watching television than I used to. That’s a huge time waster. I get up earlier and go to bed earlier. And when you begin your day centered on God’s Word and ask him what your priorities should be, things generally fall into place. I haven’t arrived at that balance, but I’m struggling as well as I can.