Update: A Light of Hope is now available! Learn more about the book or get your copy on Amazon →
My New Greek Historical Fiction Novel Set in Crete
There is a moment in the life of a book when you realize the story is no longer just yours.
After months of writing, rewriting, remembering, researching, and sometimes staring at a blank screen trying to capture a moment exactly the right way… you finally let it go.
This week, I sent A Light of Hope: Sapphira’s Story to my editor.
And hitting send felt a little emotional. Another Greek historical fiction novel, this one set entirely in Crete, that I didn’t know I needed to tell until I finished the first book.
If you read Hope Is My Anchor, you already know Sapphira. Manny’s mother (my grandmother). She was the quiet strength behind the family. But her story runs deeper than what could fit inside one novel. As I wrote the first book, I knew there were pieces of her life that deserved to be told on their own.
A Light of Hope goes back to the beginning.
It tells the story of Sapphira’s childhood in Crete, the choices she made as a young woman, and the faith that carried her through hardship. It explores the moments that shaped her life. The joys, the regrets, and the quiet strength it took to hold a family together when life did not unfold the way she imagined.
In many ways, writing this book helped me see the first story more clearly. And I kind of wish I could go back and edit some things. Funny how that works.
So much of our lives are shaped by the generations before us. By the sacrifices they made, the wounds they carried, and the quiet acts of courage that changed the course of a family.
Sapphira’s story is full of those moments.
Now the manuscript moves into the next stage: editing, refining, and preparing it for print. If all goes according to plan, A Light of Hope will be ready for release this summer.
It feels a little surreal to say that out loud. I never thought I would write one book, let alone two!
Just over a year ago, I published Hope Is My Anchor. Since then, many of you have reached out to share stories about your own parents and grandparents, and memories that suddenly felt more important to capture before they were lost.
Those conversations have meant a great deal to me.
Stories connect us.
They remind us where we came from.
They help us understand the people who came before us.
And sometimes they shine a light on things we never fully saw until someone finally wrote them down.
I have more to come on the storytelling… several people have asked for help capturing their stories, and I have some ideas to share with you all. Keep your eyes open for some courses on storytelling. I am working on them right now, and they will be available soon! (Update: the course is now open: Tell Your Story Before It’s Too Late.)
Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.
A Light of Hope Is Here
A Light of Hope was released in June 2026. It is available in paperback and on Kindle, including Kindle Unlimited.
If you haven’t read Hope Is My Anchor yet, it tells Manny’s side of the story. Each book stands on its own, so you can start with either one. Learn more about Hope Is My Anchor.
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