Interview & Giveaway ~ SIFTING THROUGH MUD by Demetria Foster Gray

The death of Nyla's husband comes as a shock to everyone except Nyla. What’s shocking to Nyla is her inability to grieve his death like a typical loving wife should grieve. But Nyla isn't a typical loving wife. She's a woman in desperate need to breathe. The oxygen in her life has long gone, and the astonishing thing she feels from her husband's death is relief, not grief.

Even more astonishing is the rare and unexpected friendship which develops between Nyla and her dead husband's mistress. However, Nyla isn’t aware her new best friend is a former mistress. And as their friendship deepens into an unshakable bond, Nyla is forced to face secrets her husband took with him to his grave. This means she has to sift through mud to unravel the truth. A truth that’s better off dead.

Yet through it all, the one thing which makes Nyla violently breathless, is the exact same thing that causes her to finally breathe.

Purchase Sifting Through Mud from:

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Discuss the book at PUYB virtual Book Club on Goodreads

Hi Demetria. Thank you for joining me today to discuss you and your book Sifting Through Mud.

Thank you, Kim, for this opportunity. I’m always happy to discuss my book.

Tell me about Demetria Foster Gray and not just what's in your bio.

I’m married with two kids (a pre-teen and a full-blown, drive me bats teenager. They both are the joy of my life).

For the past several years I’ve been on a mind, body, and soul journey to live my truth and walk in my fullest potential. I’m a Pepsi-holic, chocoholic, shower singer, work-out dabbler, Zumba dancer, and tv-sitcom freak. I love a good laugh, a good book, a good hair day, long walks alone, and the color blue (particularly navy blue). Fresh air and silence are my two best friends.

Could you please give me a quick summary of the book?

Sifting Through Mud is a story about an unlikely friendship between a woman and her dead husband’s mistress. It crosses the lines, limits, and boundaries of friendship to explore how agonizing pretenses and suffocating lies can rip you apart while bringing you closer together.

Tell me about your character, Nyla.

Nyla is a woman who has found herself stuck in midlife and unable to breathe. The oxygen in her life has long gone and she wonders about two things: (1) how much longer can she play a role that’s no longer suited for her, and (2) how much longer can she hold her breath when all she wants to do is breathe. But Nyla’s world is about to change when she meets Vivian—her dead husband’s mistress and new best friend. Vivian teaches Nyla how to finally breathe, but not without a high cost to pay.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

Trying to keep the scenes and subplots flowing well without losing steam while keeping the characters interesting. I’ve had to cut out a lot of scenes that bogged down the story, which is hard for a writer to do because we’re deeply invested in the work we created. Eliminating any part of it is like cutting off an arm or a leg.

Was there anything about this book that surprised you?

Yes, there were several things that surprised me in the storyline, but to tell what those surprises were would be a spoiler alert for the book. I don’t want to give away the major twists that shocked even me, and I’m the one who wrote it.

What did you learn from writing Sifting Through Mud?

That true friendship can weather any storm; even the storms which damage our soul and rock our core.

Finally, what thoughts or feelings do you hope readers will walk away with?

I hope readers will first be captivated by Nyla and Vivian’s friendship, then get submerged in the message of love and unconditional forgiveness. I want to leave readers hopeful, inspired, and ready to take the lessons Nyla and Vivian learned and apply them to their own lives.

Thank you again Demetria.

You’re welcome, Kim. It was my pleasure.

Follow Demetria’s Sifting Through Mud blog tour here, for reviews, guest post, interviews and spotlights.

Demetria Foster Gray is a novelist, freelance writer, and communications consultant. She earned a degree in Marketing Communications and spent the bulk of her career writing for the corporate world. Creating fictional characters and building stories has always been her first love. A native of the Chicago, IL area, Demetria now lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Sifting Through Mud is her debut novel.

Places to find Demetria Foster Gray:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Demetria is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and 1 Free Ebook copy of Sifting Through Mud!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and 1 ecopy of her book.
• This giveaway begins October 6 and ends on November 1.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, November 3
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

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