Some think courage belongs only to mythical superheroes. Others think courage is simply a matter of the will. Where does courage come from—really? Marissa Cinzano shouldn’t have trouble finding courage. After all, she was brought up on it. As a single woman, she’s relied on it her entire adult life, especially during her breast cancer journey. But when her father wants to sell Orange Tree Farm, the only home she’s ever known, she believes saving the farm is her responsibility. If only she could work up enough courage—mind over matter. Cousin Dante tries to help, but financial troubles with the family-owned restaurant makes it hard, and solutions are complicated by her father’s aging and her mother’s failing health. A fire fueled by dangerous Santa Ana winds in the canyons of Orange County, California causes a major setback. Will Orange Tree Farm be saved? Marissa’s story challenges us to remember our plans may not be God’s plans and courage is found at the intersection of faith and grit.
Author
Susan is an award-winning author whose fiction career is the culmination of a lifelong dream. She is passionate about writing stories that show characters finding courage through faith and grit as they endure life’s difficulties and, ultimately, experience the Lord’s faithfulness. Susan won two awards in the 2022 NEST Contest. A professional journalist and former homeschool leader, Susan lives in Southern California with her husband, but the kids and grandkids keep the empty nest lively. Her first novel, "Faces of Courage," debuted May 2021. Susan is the author of "An Introduction to Home Education" (AKA "California Homeschool Manual"), was the assistant director of the SoCal Christian Writers' Conference and is the president of her local ACFW-OC Chapter. She is a professional writer/journalist. Susan is proof you can begin a fiction writing career at any age. Before starting her career as a fiction author, Susan K. Beatty was a veteran homeschool mom who co-founded Christian Home Educators Association (CHEA) of California with Karen Woodfin Middleton in 1982. Susan served on the CHEA Board of Directors and as CHEA’s general manager until 2017. She and her husband have graduated all their children from homeschool as well.
