Sit Down with Author Jerusha Agen about Special Target

Kristen here. I'm thrilled to welcome my friend and author Jerusha Agen back to the Suspense Sisters to talk about her latest release, Special Target. She's giving away one copy of the book, so keep reading to the end to learn how to enter the giveaway.

Jerusha, thank you for joining me on the blog today! What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?

The spark of inspiration for Special Target was actually more like a flame or a blazing fire! I’ve never in my life had such a powerful leading from the Lord to write a story and such clear inspiration for what to write.

This amazing moment happened when I watched a documentary film from Joni and Friends titled Christian Royal: In the Potter’s Hands. The documentary told the true story of Christian Royal, a boy with Down syndrome whose pottery became well-known and highly valued in the art world. 

The Lord used this film to convict and touch me deeply and to call me to write Special Target, a Christian suspense novel that would convey the intrinsic value of all humans as made in the image of God and the power of God to use hardships for good.

Wow, I love that! Did any real‑life location, person, or experience quietly inspire elements of the plot or setting? If so, how?

Yes! Actually, I believe I included more real-life locations in this book that I’ve personally been to than any of my other novels. Thanks to living not too far from Chicago, I’ve had the chance to explore the city and the surrounding suburbs a lot through the years, including when I visited friends who lived there.

Several of the locales I’ve explored appear in Special Target, though I’ve created my own names for the suburbs to allow for greater fictional license. 

The summer heat and humidity that provides a setting element in this novel was also inspired by one of my visits to Chicago when this cold-weather girl had to endure temps over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity thick enough to suffocate me (at least that’s what it felt like at the time).

If you could step into one scene from the book—not the dangerous ones—where would you go and why?

Well, apparently, I would go to Navy Pier, because I did in real life! The Navy Pier scene in Special Target actually is a dangerous one, but I’m glad nothing scary happened the day I was there. 

I'm glad too! What’s one part of your daily routine that quietly fuels your creativity or keeps you grounded?

Watching movies in the evening with dinner! I’ve found there’s nothing better to fuel my creativity, help me to relax, and even give me story ideas.

What are you working on now?

I’m wrapping up edits for If You Die, a new Christian suspense thriller novel that is slated to appear in a summer anthology later this year. 

Then I’ll jump right into outlining and writing Watched, Book Three in the Windy City Westons romantic suspense series that’s available for preorder now! (Releasing September 24 this year!)

Those projects sound wonderful, too! Where can your readers learn more about you?

Readers can learn more about me and all my books at JerushaAgen.com or my store, JerushaShop.com.

Thank you, Jerusha, for sharing your time and story with us! Keep reading to learn more about Jerusha and how to enter to win a copy of Special Target. 

Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. 

With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and coach with over twenty years of publishing industry experience.

Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Get a free suspense story from Jerusha and find more of her redemptive stories at www.JerushaAgen.com.

Now, here's more about Special Target.

She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?

For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances. 

But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew. 

The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.

Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.

The best link for Special Target to find all buying options is: https://jerushaagen.com/books/special-target/ 

For a chance to win one copy of Special Target (paperback for U.S. or ebook for an international winner), leave a comment for Jerusha, and be sure to include your email address. 

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Congratulations to Debbie P. on winning this giveaway! Thank you to everyone who commented.