Meet Shelia Stovall, the author behind three of my favorite novels.
Shelia admits she doesn't particularly enjoy writing—and yet, somehow, God put a story on her heart. Actually, He put an entire town there.
That fictional town is Weldon, and it has become home to the characters and stories in Shelia's three novels: “Every Window Filled with Light,” “Every Day Filled with Hope” and “Every Life Filled with Purpose.”
In this episode, Shelia and I talk about how Weldon came to be, the characters readers have come to know and love, the unexpected way she became an author—and, of course, fried cranberry pies.
When we recorded this episode, Shelia was the director of a small-town library in southern Kentucky. She has since retired. She and her husband, Mike, live in the Kentucky countryside with their four dogs, and they have two children and four grandchildren.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The goosebump-inducing story of how God put the Weldon novels on her heart
- The "dusty laptop" that played a role in her writing journey
- Why Shelia named the fictional town Weldon
- Her seven mission trips to Africa
- Why reviews and ratings are so important to authors
SPOILER ALERT
Near the end of the episode, Shelia shares exciting news about book four in the Weldon Series.
The current working title is Every Home Filled with Love. The title could change before publication, but Shelia hopes the book will be released in 2027.
She also reads an excerpt from the book.
The excerpt contains spoilers from the first three Weldon novels.
If you haven't read all three books yet and don't want to hear spoilers, pause the episode at approximately 1:30:00 and skip ahead to approximately 1:35:00.
If you're caught up with Weldon, don't skip it. You'll get a fun glimpse of what's coming next!
Want to read the Weldon novels?
If you're new to the series, here's the reading order I recommend:
1. Weldon's Secret Santa
A free e-book and a great introduction to the world of Weldon.
2. Every Window Filled with Light
A Weldon Novel, Book 1
3. Every Day Filled with Hope
A Weldon Novel, Book 2
4. A Fork in the Road
A free e-book that fits into the Weldon reading journey.
5. Every Life Filled with Purpose
A Weldon Novel, Book 3
Another free e-book: A Sassy Creek Christmas. (not connected to the Weldon novel)
Find Shelia's free e-books
Fried Cranberry Pies
Ovaletta's fried cranberry pies appear throughout Shelia's stories.
They were inspired by Habegger's Amish Market in Scottsville, Kentucky, along with Shelia's memories of her mom making fried pies. Get Shelia's fried cranberry pie recipe https://randomsweets.com/shelia-stovall-weldon-novels/
Books Shelia recommends
Ann H. Gabhart
- The Pursuit of Elena Bradford
- Along a Storied Trail
- The Song of Sourwood Mountain
Ann H. Gabhart's website
Michelle Shocklee
- The Women of Oak Ridge
- Appalachian Song
Michelle Shocklee's website
Sarah Loudin Thomas
Sarah Loudin Thomas's website
Shelia also recommends:
- Jan Karon's Mitford Series
- Philip Gulley's Harmony Series
She and her sister also have a house on Dauphin Island, Alabama, which is available as a vacation rental.
Dauphin Island vacation rental — The Sanderling
And yes, we also talk about roast beef at the Shady Rest Motel in Arapahoe, Nebraska—and why Shelia now owns a coat affectionately known as her "Nebraska Coat."
Guest Shelia Stovall
Website: sheliastovall.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stovallshelia/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20932904.Shelia_Stovall
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerSheliaStovall
“Books I Love” on her Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/shelia1716/books-i-love/
Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal
RandomSweets.com
Website randomsweets.com
Instagram @potatoesandmittens
Instagram @randomsweets
Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens
Facebook Random Sweets
Pinterest @staciperry
Email: [email protected]
