About the Book

Book: The End Begins (Rerelease)

Author: Sara Davison

Genre: Dystopian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: July 15, 2024

Which of them is the prisoner and which one is free?

Bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly and Army Captain Jesse Christensen are on opposite sides of a battle. After a series of terrorist attacks in 2053, martial law has been declared in Canada and the military has taken over. When a radical Christian group claims responsibility, Jesse and his platoon are sent to Meryn’s city to keep an eye on the Christians and ensure they are not stepping outside the confines of the law.

Fiery and quick-tempered, Meryn chafes under the curfew and other restrictions to her freedom. Jesse is equally amused, intrigued, and terrified by her spirit, knowing she could end up in prison if she shows defiance to the wrong soldier, namely Lieutenant Gallagher.

Jesse watches out for Meryn when possible, although she wants nothing to do with him. His worst fears are realized when she commits a crime he cannot protect her from. Now they both face an uncertain future and the very real threat of losing everything, including their lives.

With time running out, Jesse works feverishly to convince the authorities to show leniency—and to convince Meryn that love can overcome any barrier that lies between them.

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About the Author

Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Cascade, Word, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

More from Sara

Most, if not all, great fiction begins with the question, “What if?” This is likely truer for The Day Draws Near Series (formerly The Seven Trilogy) than for any of my other stories.

The seeds for this series were planted as I worked my way through a study on Revelation at our church. Each of those seeds represented a what if question.

What if the Bible was outlawed and taken away from believers? What if restrictions such as a curfew or being forced to wear an identity bracelet were placed on Christians? What if the consequences for not following those restrictions became serious, even deadly? What if publicly declaring that you were a follower of Jesus Christ made it harder to buy or sell items? What if the churches were closed and believers forced to meet underground? What if teaching your children from the Bible meant you risked having them taken away from you? What if all this happened in Canada and the US in the very near future?

And the big question the entire series asks is: What if we are not ready?

Those seeds grew into the characters and storylines that make up the dystopian romantic suspense books The End Begins, The Darkness Deepens, and The Morning Star Rises.

The Day Draws Near Series is a revised and updated-with-new-content version of The Seven Trilogy, originally released in 2015 and 2016. While I don’t for a moment claim these books are prophetic, between their original release and now, many of the things that happen in the series, including a global pandemic, have since come to pass.

My hope and prayer for each book in this series is that readers will be left with a deeper awareness that time is short and that we are living in a society increasingly hostile to Christianity and in a world of darkness that hates the light. However that hostility and hatred plays out, life will become more difficult for Christians in the future, as the Bible clearly claims.

However, the tone of the book and what I pray readers will take with them is one of peace and hope. The most powerful message these stories convey is that there is no need to be afraid. God’s ultimate plan of redemption and reconciliation is playing out in front of our eyes. Nothing can thwart that plan. Nothing can happen that God does not allow.

Above all, every believer can know with absolute certainty that, whatever happens in the future, we will never face it alone. God will be with us, watching over us and giving us the strength and the courage to endure to the end.

Author Interview

When/how did you decide to become a writer?

I know the exact moment, in fourth grade. We had gone on a class trip, and when we returned, we had to do a write-up about it. My story was chosen to go in the school newsletter, and to this day, mumble mumble years later, I can still remember how it felt to see my words in print and know that others were reading them. I knew then that was what I wanted to do with my life.

Which author has most influenced your own writing?

I have to name more than one here. Fellow Canadian Janette Oke was certainly one, as Love Comes Softly was the first Christian fiction I read that had a deep impact on me. She really paved the way for the Christian fiction writers who came after her. Madeleine L’Engle for her incredible ability to create and take me to other worlds. And Angela Hunt, a brilliant writer who isn’t afraid to write books that are different than the usual Christian fiction, to push boundaries, explore, and try new things. I have endeavoured to be like that with my own writing.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I’m the worst at having a regular schedule. I am in my office working whenever possible, but if my husband or kids want to talk or go for a walk or friends ask me to go for coffee, I always want to be open and available for those moments. I’m definitely someone who likes to work on a flexible schedule.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Can I be both? I do like to know the beginning and the end of the story before I begin. And I like to have a rough idea of how I am getting from one point to the other. Along the way, though, the story and characters often take me down paths I did not foresee, which keeps the writing fun for me.

Do you have a favorite or special place to write?

A friend has a cottage on a lake, and three of us go there to write a few times a year. Those are always my most relaxing, productive times. I love being in my office with my “puppies” (14-year-old cockapoos), too, though. Definitely my happy place.

Is there a particular literary period that you’re drawn to (Regency, Victorian, Romantic, Modernism, etc.)? Why?

I don’t write historical, and I don’t read a lot of it either, although there are a few regency authors I enjoy. I have always written contemporary and that is the majority of what I read as well. Not sure why, except that with the genre I write – romantic suspense – the danger and excitement feels more real and immediate when set in the present (or, in the case of The End Begins, slightly in the future).

Describe your book in five words.

Exciting romantic sobering plausible hope-full

Which one of your characters speaks most to your heart? Why?

For some reason, I relate far more to my male characters and find them much easier to write. Jesse, the hero in The End Begins, is no exception. I feel for him because he is so torn between the woman he loves and the God he wants nothing to do with. He cannot have one without the other, but surrendering to God will put his career and life in jeopardy. Although he is an unbeliever, he is a truly good man who is willing to take enormous risks to protect the people he cares about.

Do you ever hide things in your stories for readers to find?

I love doing that! Now that I have a few series out, I am starting to cross over between them, and readers of all my books often comment that they loved seeing characters from another series pop up in my stories. That’s a lot of fun.

What are your hobbies?

When I’m not writing, I love to walk, watch movies (especially old black and white ones), have coffee with friends, take road trips, spend time with family, play games, and, of course, read.

What is your favorite book?

It’s a toss-up between A Wrinkle in Time, which had a huge impact on me as a young reader, and The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. Both authors have the ability to create a world in which the reader truly feels as though he or she is right there (and doesn’t ever want to leave).

Do you prefer traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks?

Hmm. For a long time, I resisted getting a Kindle, but now that I have one, I rarely read any other way because it’s so convenient. It’s not the same as an actual book, though, which will always be my first choice. I have recently gotten into audiobooks as well when I’m walking or driving. So, can I say all three, depending on the circumstances?

Do you have a favorite Bible verse, or is there a particular Bible story that really resonates with you?

My favourite Bible story is maybe a lesser known one in the book of Joshua. Just as Joshua is preparing to go to battle against Jericho, he sees a man standing before him. Joshua goes over and asks the man if he is for them or for their enemies. The man replies that he is the commander of the Lord’s army, and he has come. Joshua then falls on his face before the man. Since the man does not tell him not to worship him, as an angel would, most biblical scholars agree this is Jesus, appearing in human form to Joshua to convey a message from God. That message is that He is there, with Joshua and his army. That He will protect them, fight for them, and divinely deliver their enemies into Joshua’s hands. I love this reassurance that, no matter what we are going through, no matter what we have done or has been done to us, we are never alone. God is with us always. He sees us and knows us, He fights for us, and He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. That is the theme readers will find threaded throughout every one of my stories.

If you could live inside a book, which one would it be?

Oh, that’s such a lovely thought. I think, as a good Canadian, I’d have to say Anne of Green Gables. I’m a small-town girl, and Avonlea, despite its many gossips, would be such a beautiful place to live a simple life surrounded by family and friends. I absolutely love Prince Edward Island too. I recently returned from a trip there and thought many times that it is definitely a place I could see myself living. Plus, you know, Gilbert Blythe 😊

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

The best piece of advice I ever got is one I often pass along to new writers. And that is, if you believe in your story, never, ever give up. This can be an extremely frustrating and discouraging business. There will be many reasons for you to want to give up and many, many times you will want to. But if you persevere, learn, grow, take feedback, study the craft until you can write with excellence (which honours God), and then market to the best of your ability and resources, you can leave the results in God’s hands, trusting that he will get your story into the hands of all those He wants to receive its message. And when that happens, the book will have been a success.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, September 19

For the Love of Literature, September 20 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 22

Through the Fire Blogs, September 23 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 23

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 24

Betti Mace, September 25

Artistic Nobody, September 26 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 27

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 28 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, September 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Beauty in the Binding, September 30 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 1

For Him and My Family, October 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a paperback copy of the book!!