Most people probably know Shannon Ethridge from her
nonfiction works such as Every Woman’s Battle (WaterBrook Press), but she recently
tried her hand at fiction with the help of screenwriter Kathryn Mackel. The two
teamed up to write Veil of Secrets (Thomas Nelson), which releases this month. They
sat down to tell us about their project and the inspiration behind it.
Your new book Veil of
Secrets was a creative collaboration. Was this your first project together
and how was it working on a novel with another person?
Shannon:Veil of Secrets is actually a follow-up
to our first novel, To Know You (Thomas
Nelson, 2013), although they are both stand-alone stories that do not need to
be read in sequence.Working together
was a dream for both Kathy and me.For
years, I’d wanted to use fiction as a platform to share my passions for healthy
sexuality and spirituality, but I knew just enough about fiction to know that I
would not be able to pull it off single-handedly!
When a literary agent showed me Kathy’s amazing
credentials, I knew she could take my characters and themes and wave a magic
fiction wand, weaving in all kinds of twists, turns, and plot-thickening
tension that I could never envision in my wildest imagination!Kathy was also excited about working with
someone who, as a professional life and relationship coach, lives day-to-day in
the trenches with women and couples struggling with all sorts of sexual issues.
This book is about secrets, shame and guilt–something every woman
can probably relate to. But it’s interesting because the stakes are very high
for this political couple. Where did the inspiration for this novel come from?
Kathy: I have volunteered
on campaigns in Massachusetts (often with less than satisfying results). Though
a lot of travel is involved, the process becomes very claustrophobic. Loyalty
is key—politics is a nasty business and we all know from real-life campaigns
that staff needs to be absolutely trustworthy. This novel is not about
politics—though the presidential campaign provides setting and conflict.
The story is about trust
and betrayal of trust, and true forgiveness and renewal that can only come
through God’s grace. As a further amplification of Shannon’s themes, we also
look at what it means to really
listen to someone outside our circle. There is a saying that ‘all politics are
local’ and that’s true. Grace, forgiveness,
and true loyalty are similar – we must first offer these gifts to our own
“inner circle” before they can have any real global impact.
Was there a character in the book that each of you resonated with
personally? If so, why?
Shannon:Even though I’m known for being “the sex lady” with the Every Woman’s Battle series, The Sexually Confident Wife, and all of
the other books and speaking I’ve done over the past 20 years, I actually most
identify with the lead character, Melanie.Like her, I was sexually abused as a young teenager, and tried to sweep
it under the rug, but it negatively impacted my sex drive for the first 7 years
of our marriage.I didn’t want to tell
my husband out of fear that he’d view me as “damaged goods.”It wasn’t until I went through six months of
intense counseling myself that I learned how to overcome this battle and be the
sexually confident wife that I am today.
Kathy: I
identify most with Carrie. She means well and tries to shoulder so many
burdens. But she’s been raised in the bubble that is Washington, D.C. and
national politics, and—despite her sophistication—she is an adolescent when it
comes to personal matters. Though I haven’t had the situation she finds herself
in, many of us know what it’s like to become consumed—maybe with church-related
activities, sports leagues, or community service. Every day there’s another job
to be done, battle to be won, opponent to be tamed. It’s easy to strive toward
our own agenda and look for our Lord to catch up to our plans!
This book also has a generational factor because your main
character, Melanie, is struggling to direct her daughter through the tumultuous
teen years. Can either of you relate to this struggle?
Shannon: Actually, my own mother can probably relate to
this struggle better than anyone, as she witnessed me gravitating toward older
men and promiscuous relationships throughout my teen years.I have no doubt that I kept her prayer life
very active!But rather than being a
“helicopter mom” like Melanie, she gave me both space and grace (or “enough
rope to hang yourself or tie a bow with it” as she would say) to learn my own
lessons, and for that I am grateful because now I find such joy in helping
other women overcome a wide variety of sexual issues through my coaching
practice and through my Women at the Well 4-day Intensive Workshops (to learn
more, visit www.shannonethridge.com).I
can’t envision being more fulfilled in any other career or ministry!
What are some themes in this novel you believe will resonate with
readers?
Fearing what we’ll find if we face our painful
past instead of running from it, recognizing our negative emotions as friends
and wise teachers rather than enemies, learning to trust God, our spouse, our
children, ourselves, enjoying the power and freedom that comes from surrendering
our need to control others, choosing to believe that our own life’s journey
will ultimately lead us toward healing and wholeness – if we let it.
Can we expect more from this duo?
If the reader response is what we hope for with Veil of Secrets and To Know You, we certainly have more characters waiting to be
birthed and ideas to bring to life!