Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel The Other Side of Darkness, Linda Wood Rondeau writes blended contemporary fiction that speaks to the heart and offers hope to those with damaged lives. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Her most recent release, A Christmas Prayer (also known as A Father's Prayer), was a finalist for both the 2014 Selah and Carol Awards.

Other books by Linda include: It Really IS a Wonderful Life, Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street, Days of Vines and Roses, and her nonfiction book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children, also part of a compilation (Uplifting Devotionals). A sequel to Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street (Snow on Eagle Mountain) is expected to be released soon.

Linda's Jolly Angel is also part of a compilation, Blue Heaven Romances.

Welcome, Linda. If you could have dinner with one person from today or history (except Jesus) who would it be?

I'd love to have a sit down with C.S. Lewis. I know he was an atheist at one time. I have read his Mere Christianity and it is moving...how a philosopher came to faith through sheer logic. I know he had literary mentors who helped him come to the Lord. I'd like to ask him exactly what was said. What made him finally see the reality of Christ?

Please tell us a little about your novel, A Father's Prayer.  

As a social worker, I have long been concerned over the impact that autism spectrum has on the nuclear family. As a grandparent of a special needs child, I was fortunate to see the issue from both the familial and the professional points of view. I wanted to write a romance story that featured an autistic child and the challenges special needs children bring to a relationship. Readers who work with autistic children will also identify with the professionals who work hard to help the families of these children, caught between a slow, cumbersome legal system, and a desire to keep the child safe. Those who have no direct involvement with an autistic child, hopefully, will gain a better appreciation for the challenges families and professionals face. Some have asked, "What is the most difficult task in writing this book?" I have to say that the hardest part was the court issues. Although a former social worker, I needed to do extensive research into current family court practices. I also did extensive research on Herkimer County Courthouse, the place of the famous Grace Brown murder trial, the inspiration behind Theodore Dreiser's American Tragedy, and the movie, A Place in the Sun.

What takeaway value do you want your readers to have?

I want readers to understand that autistic children are special people, indeed. They are not different, rather approach life from a unique perspective. I hoped to not only demonstrate the challenges but also the joys.

Where can readers find you online?

Readers may visit me at my web site at www.lindarondeau.com, my blog, This Daily Grind, or email me at lindarondeau@gmail.com or find me on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, Google Plus and Goodreads.  

Where can readers purchase A Father's Prayer?

This book is available both in ebook format and print version at Amazon.com