I recently interviewed Kellie Coates Gilbert about her new release, Where Rivers Part! Keep reading to learn more and how you can enter to win a copy of her book!
What is the premise of your new novel, Where Rivers Part?
This is the second release in the Texas Gold Collection from Baker/Revell. Each of these books is set in a metropolitan city of Texas. Where Rivers Part takes place in San Antonio and tells the story of Dr. Juliet Ryan who has devoted her scientific acumen to corporate America, providing safe drinking water for millions—and affording her plenty of perks along the way. Then, without warning, a fast-moving disaster sweeps Juliet into a whirlpool of corporate scandal and places lives at risk. As she scrambles to find answers, Juliet must face her deepest wounds and join forces with her father to expose a far-reaching conspiracy. Underneath it all, she struggles to forgive those who betrayed her trust—not least of all her own father.
What sparked your idea for this story?
Years back, I worked on a legal case involving an outbreak of foodborne illness resulting from undercooked hamburger. The outbreak sickened many and nearly toppled a multi-million dollar corporation.
During a key deposition of the executive who was in charge of quality control, the plaintiff’s attorney posed questions meant to vilify him and suggest his lack of oversight caused the death of four children. As you might expect, several hours of this took its toll. But, none of us in that room that day anticipated the moment the man buried his head in his hands and fell to tears.
I knew there was a story behind those tears and I wanted to tell it . . . even if only in my imagination.
Please tell us a little about your main character, Dr. Juliet Ryan.
Dr. Ryan is a driven and very accomplished food scientist, yet inside she’s still the little girl hurt by her father’s marital indiscretions and the pain it caused her mother. Like many of us, she tries to fill her emotional emptiness with the façade of professional success. But in an instant, her life is ripped apart and she discovers no amount of achievement is enough to weather the storm.
Literal water is at the center of this plot. How is water also an appropriate theme of the book?
While forming the plot of this book, a favorite scripture kept finding its way into my mind.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you . . .
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior” Isaiah 43:2-3
I think readers will enjoy seeing all the references to water and how the truth of this scripture plays out in the story (especially key scenes set at the famed Riverwalk in San Antonio) While this beautiful city is located in an arid environment, underneath is the Edwards Aquifer, a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world, serving the diverse agricultural, industrial, recreational, and domestic needs of almost two million users in south central Texas—such an amazing picture of Jesus, who is often referred to in the Bible as our Living Water, the one who quenches our arid places.
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Where Rivers Part!
Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who investigated the largest cattle fraud case in US history. Her legal experience gives her an insider’s view into how people react under pressure. The author of A Woman of Fortune and Where Rivers Part, she currently lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband. Learn more at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.
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This sounds interesting. I would love to read it.
I have never heard of this author before and would love to read this book.
What an interesting plot.. would enjoy reading this book 🙂
I loved A Woman of Fortune. Would love to win this one. It sounds very interesting.
Kellie is a new author to me, thanks for the chance to win!
Could lose all track of time in a story like this. I want to be entered in the contest for a chance to win Where Rivers Part. Thanks for this giveaway.
Shirley
I would love to win a copy of Where Rivers Part, the books sounds very interesting. I have been reading mostly Amish books for the past year, I think its time to open myself up to other kinds of books.
Please enter me in this contest.
Thank you!
Where Rivers Part sounds like a really interesting book. I love it when a book is based on a Bible verse (I especially like the one you chose – I’ll have to remember it) and asks you to make connections with it throughout the book. I’d love to win a copy!
I would love to read this.
I love the theme of living water. It’s such a beautiful image!
This book sounds intriguing…will be on the lookout for it as well as the first book in the series…
This s pounds like a wonderful book. I’d love to read it and will be adding it to my TBR list.
I am definitely intrigued!
Sure would like to win this contest
Sounds like an interesting read. Would love to read it.
I would love to win this book.
WHERE RIVERS PART sounds like an awesome book. I would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com
Oh what a great sounding book and I would love a copy. Thank you.
She is right ..I know His word is true. Been there. Am there. Trust un Him always. Would love to win Where Rivers Parts. Blessings.
Looking forward to reading this book!
I keep hearing more often how our main waterways are getting more poluted. So I think the topic of your story may hit close to home in some ways, besides sounding like a great story. Would really enjoy reading this.
Would love to read and what a beautiful cover.
Hi I hope I win a copy I like Amish fiction
This books sounds fascinating! I would love to read this & also see all the scripture references to Jesus being our living water. I love it when authors include scripture, isn’t that why we read Christian fiction ( I do anyway)! Thank you for a chance to win a copy of “Where Rivers Part” and to discover a new-to-me- author!
I have the first book in the series on my Kobo 🙂
I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I would like to read this book. Winning it would be nice, too!
So I have to read this book. San Antonio has special meaning to me. I took my daughter there in August. (could have chosen a cooler month, no?) and we went south of there to where my ancestor helped settle the first permanent Polish settlement in the USA. So we spent wonderful hours at the Riverwalk, too. Of course! So I would love, love love to read a book in this setting. And this book sounds so good! I am somewhat “driven” as the main character is also and know this book would be a real highlight in my life!
This sounds like a great book. I’d love to win.
What a wonderful book this sounds like it is. Hardship but yet perceverence with the trust in him to see her through. I would love to have a chance to win and read this uplifting book. Thank you.
Sounds like a great read. I enjoyed the interview.
Hi Susanne. Thanks for having Kellie on here. Hello Kellie. I like the sound of your book and would love to win it. I live by Houston and have never been able to visit San Antonio. So have never see the Alamo. Just never had a chance to go. So many, many places in our big state of Texas I’ve never seen and will soon be 80 so guess I never will. Please put my name in Suzanne.
GOD bless you both, Maxie
Hi Susanne. Thanks for having Kellie on here. Hello Kellie. I like the sound of your book and would love to win it. I live by Houston and have never been able to visit San Antonio. So have never see the Alamo. Just never had a chance to go. So many, many places in our big state of Texas I’ve never seen and will soon be 80 so guess I never will. Please put my name in Suzanne.
GOD bless you both, Maxie
This book is on my TBR list. As a newly transplanted Texan, I am eager to learn the history of my state. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a great book to read. I would love to win such a great book.
I would love to win this book.
This sounds like a great read, would love to have a chance too win a copy… Blessings Upon You
Sounds like a great book! Would love to win a copy!
I love San Antonio… the Riverwalk, the Alamo, so much history. Where the Rivers Part sounds so engaging, please add me!
I love books set in my home state. Must read!
Wow, Kellie! What an interesting premise for a book…and the story-behind-the-story was equally fascinating. Thank you so much for taking time for this interview. I enjoyed getting to know you! Warmly, Suzanne
Thanks everyone for entering to win a copy of WHERE RIVERS PART! And thank you, Suzanne, for hosting me again and highlighting this story to your readers. I apologize I wasn’t able to come on and respond earlier. Some publishing folks from Revell Books (the publisher Suzanne and I are both privileged to work with) were in town and I was spending time with them and away from home. We had the MOST fun attending a live taping at the LIFE TODAY studios for a non-fiction author (Mark Batterson). I don’t know if any of you watch the program which airs on several networks, but I was so impressed with Jim and Betty Robinson and what they do to highlight authors and artists and raise money to help in the effort to end sex trafficking of women and young girls. In the days ahead, remember to pray for their efforts. This is a huge problem, and the Robinsons are making a difference. Again, thanks for visiting me here on Suzanne’s blog….and I hope you all enjoy this story. (PS….Suzanne will be on my blog in March, so stay tuned!)
Always love trying new books!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! I would love to read books set in modern Texas… They would be a change to the older Texas stories I’ve read by Caryl McAdoo. Also, we travel for work in Texas a lot so it would be nice to have read stories from where we’ve traveled.