At the Scent of Water* (A Novel)

Widowhood stole more than just her husband…

As a Bible teacher with a bruised faith, a wife to a dead husband and a mother to an angry daughter, Abigial Crawford is struggling to be the strong, spiritual person everyone expects her to be. Finances are worse. Job opportunities keep slamming shut as she seeks to support her family and create a new life. When a unique offer comes along – to work in a new church-run halfway house program across the country – Abigial takes advantage of a new start.

But uprooting her kids to move across the country widens the chasm with her daughter, Josie. And teaching ex-cons is nothing like teaching women’s ministry in church. The calloused women challenge Abigail’s frail faith and jeopardize her job. When she meets Wade, who runs a ministry for widows, ministry turns into friendship and possibly more. Their relationship brings both hope … and complications as Abigial seeks to move forward.

With her new job on the line, Abigial must find a way to make inroads with the women before more disastrous consequences unfold in the women’s lives. Her quest to teach them ends up giving her an education she didn’t bargain for. When the progress in her new life unravels, it forces a reckoning regarding faith, tragedy, and what strength truly looks like.

At the Scent of Water reminds us that though heartbreak may forever change us, we are forever in God’s redeeming hand.

Author’s Note: When I started writing this story (my first ever), my goal was to portray realistic widowhood. Long-term grief weaves itself into the fabric of the new, unwanted life my character now has to create. I wanted to show the complexities of grief and how confusing life can be when wading through it. I wanted to highlight the highs and lows of falling in love again after widowhood which aren’t often portrayed well in fiction. Fear, confusion, and feelings of betrayal often plague the griever. The main character, Abigail, was a leader in her church when she tragically lost her husband. The story follows her faith, which flailed like a caught fish, and had to learn to grow again. Her journey of healing is a journey of trust, overcoming fear and learning deep lessons of faith and strength. I hope the story of Abigail and the truths peppered throughout this story are a blessing to you.

*Proposed title. Title may change after a publishing contract takes place.